Lobster Dispute Turns Fatal: Man Denies Attempted Murder Charge

A Florida man accused of cutting off an 18-year-old diver's oxygen supply over a lobster dispute has finally spoken out against his attempted murder charge. Michael Simpson, 51, faces arrest after police claim he intentionally shut down the breathing apparatus for Hunter Cofer while the teen was diving tens of feet underwater off Miami. The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office released a detailed criminal complaint that paints a grim picture of events on the morning of July 29. Police say the situation escalated from a verbal argument between groups aboard two lobster boats into something far more dangerous. Simpson pleaded not guilty, posted a $10,000 bond, and was released from jail Wednesday evening. He held a press conference Friday while standing next to his two sons and declared that every accusation against him is 100 percent not true. Not true. Absolutely not. I never touched the air belt. Never touched the machine. Simpson told Local10 News during the event, adding that sitting in jail to read his arrest report feels devastating.

The complaint alleges that Simpson swam over to a brownie third lung breathing apparatus Cofer was using and turned it off. This device floats on the water's surface and sends oxygen to divers through tubes. Steven Del Sol, who operated the boat transporting Cofer, told police he had to warn a minor to stay away from the system because someone was underwater. Simpson allegedly replied that he would turn the brownie off if he wanted to. At the press conference, Simpson denied making that statement and offered a completely different version of events. He claimed his son Conrad was being yelled at by Cofer's father. The older man was shouting Get away from the effing brownie! I will eff you up! During Friday's event, Michael Simpson hit back hard against accusations that he turned off an 18-year-old diver's oxygen supply because of a dispute over a lobster diving spot.

Simpson is charged with attempted murder but insists the allegations in the detailed criminal complaint are false. He claims his son was frozen seven feet away from the brownie while the other guy absolutely screamed at him and threatened him. Simpson said he got into the water to see why his kid was being shouted at. As I swam over there, he started to proceed to yell at me and scream at me. He gives the brownie a jerk. He pulls it, and the machine turns off. The teen kind of shuffles, slips, falls on the edge of the boat, and drops into the water. Simpson described how Cofer looked up at his wife and said Film this shit! Murderers! Cofer's father ultimately pulled him up by the tubes attached to the brownie third lung. Once the 18-year-old surfaced, he was disoriented, gasping for air, and confused about what happened. The complaint says this exactly. Simpson did not dispute that part of the account but insisted it was the teen's father who accidentally turned off the breathing apparatus while he fell into the water. Why would the dad need to lie that he jumped in?

He fell in front of everybody," Simpson stated during a tense press conference on Friday. The former volunteer for Miami-Dade County's Boater Safety and Bay Education Task Force stood before reporters to defend his name after an arrest earlier that week. That temporary program aimed to raise boating safety standards, yet the mayor's office insisted Simpson's alleged actions were contrary to its mission.

Simpson pleaded not guilty on Wednesday, posted a $10,000 bond, and was released by evening. Video circulating on social media captured him swimming back to his vessel after an incident involving a breathing apparatus. He argued the footage proves he never tampered with the life-saving gear. A criminal complaint claims he threatened to turn off the device before allegedly doing so, but Simpson called that accusation false.

The document also alleged he fled on his boat after deactivating what is described as a third lung for Cofer. Simpson countered that he merely motored about 300 yards away to escape immediate danger. During court proceedings, prosecutors reduced his initial charge of felony attempted murder to second-degree attempted murder. That less severe but still serious felony carries up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

He retained attorney Howard Srebnick, who vowed to fight the charge aggressively. A spokesperson released a statement declaring Mike Simpson has devoted his life to boating safety. They noted he earned a reputation as one of South Florida's safest and most responsible boaters while serving on a boating safety council. "Mike Simpson has devoted his life to boating safety," the statement read in part.

Cofer was pulled up unharmed though gasping for air, according to the complaint. An attorney for the teen's family refuted Simpson's claims at the press conference. Tonja Haddad stated her family wanted authorities to conduct their investigation without interference from the defendant's camp. "However, we do refute the recitation given by the defendant in his press conference," Haddad added regarding the conflicting accounts.

Simpson asserted boating safety has always been a top priority for him since joining the task force. He looks forward to presenting full facts in court to clear his name and restore the reputation he spent a lifetime building. The case highlights how regulations and government directives directly affect public trust and community safety standards.