Man arrested, boat confiscated after being questioned post-rescue near Marco Island

A man has been arrested after answering a call for help. This happened last month about 20 miles off the coast of Marco Island.

When he got back to shore, law enforcement began investigating him. He tried to help his loved ones who found themselves in trouble on a fishing trip only to find himself in trouble now.

WINK News spoke to that man three weeks ago when his boat was confiscated, but now we know why.

According to jail records, a man was arrested and faces multiple charges for not having serial numbers.

You may recall these three boaters who got lost at sea during a fishing trip just off the Marco Island coast.

Boaters rescued off Marco Island questioned by law enforcement after being saved

Yadian Perezprats is the friend who got their SOS. He said, “They sent out a text message when they barely had any cell service asking for help.”

Out on the water, Perezprats found himself in trouble and running out of gas which, of course, led to more trouble back on land. Multiple law enforcement agencies were there waiting and searching for answers.

“Eventually, they found my friends. Someone passed them while they were stranded in open waters,” said Perezprats.

The good news is that the lost men were located, and both boats were brought back to shore. The bad news is that that’s when the investigation kicked off.

“They’re inspecting my boat top to bottom. They even have the dog out,” Perezprats said.

For hours, multiple law enforcement agencies were combing through his boat, searching for answers. “They’re looking for numbers on the motor and on the boat,” said Perezprats.

Those numbers were something investigators never found, which is why Perezprats found himself in jail.

Perezprats posted bond and is due in court on April 4 in Collier County.