A man who was the subject of a U.S. Coast Guard search after he went missing in the Florida Keys over the weekend was found safe and arrested for allegedly stealing a boat, authorities said.
Read more Man in critical condition after being electrocuted in Opa-locka, police say
The Coast Guard had launched the search for 32-year-old Dustin Southwick, of Fort Myers, after he’d been last seen off the 33rd Street boat ramp around 8:30 Saturday on a boat named Mauney Marine, officials said.
#BOLO @USCG crews are looking for Dustin Southwick, reportedly last seen at his rental at 8 a.m., Sat., in Marathon, & then off the 33 St. boat ramp around noon, on the boat, Mauney Marine. If anyone has information on the boat or Southwick, call Sector Key West @ 888-245-9727. pic.twitter.com/Esy4tmGwiu
— U.S. Coast Guard Southeast (@USCGSoutheast) August 2, 2026
But Monroe County Sheriff’s Office officials said Southwick was arrested Tuesday by federal authorities in Everglades National Park on a grand theft charge for allegedly stealing the boat.
Read more School menus released for Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties
The 26-foot boat had been found beached along a shoreline by the U.S. Park Service after a good Samaritan notified officials about Southwick’s presence, officials said.
Southwick said the vessel ran out of fuel, causing him to beach it, and that he had been surviving on crackers, water and electrolyte drinks while stranded, officials said.
The sheriff’s office said the boat had been stolen from a residential dock and that the owner knows Southwick and said he took the boat without his permission.
Read more Mistrial declared in 2022 Florida Keys parasailing death case as jury can’t reach verdict
An investigation was ongoing and more charges may be pending, officials said.