North Port firefighter was with charter captain caught on camera berating boater, chief says
Share and Follow


PUNTA GORDA, Fla. (WFLA) — A North Port firefighter was identified as a passenger on board a boat alongside a charter captain caught on camera berating another boater.

Video of the confrontation, which happened in Punta Gorda on Tuesday, has since racked up millions of views on Facebook and hundreds of thousands on YouTube.

The 4-minute clip shows an argument between the two boaters, who are both adults, according to Punta Gorda police. Mid-video, a man who identified himself as a charter captain climbed aboard the man’s boat.

Police said they are investigating the incident alongside the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard.

North Port Fire Rescue is also looking into the incident after Fire Chief Scott Titus revealed one of the passengers on the charter captain’s boat was one of his firefighters. He identified the man as “Firefighter Riggs.”

“He is a North Port Firefighter and a celebrated military veteran known for his calm, easygoing demeanor, and his passion for service to his Country and to the citizens of North Port,” Titus wrote in a Facebook post.

Titus urged residents to withhold their judgement of Riggs for now and said the fire department “will address this situation once (they) have all of the facts.”

“The world I was raised in demanded innocence unless proven guilty,” Titus wrote. “Firefighter Riggs has saved many lives and influenced a positive outcome on many calls in our city, not to mention his sacrifice to fight for our freedom in his military career. We will continue to honor and value his past service to country and his investment in our community as we determine the facts of the case and address them.”

Officials have not released any further details about the incident or their investigation.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Osprey Population Recovers, But Increasing Chicks Mortality in Nests Linked to Overfishing

GLOUCESTER POINT, Va. – Stepping onto an old wooden duck blind in…

Sheriff’s office reports woman’s guilty plea using someone else’s identity

UNICOI COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — A Lebanon, Virginia, woman was charged with…

George Santos tells Tucker Carlson he's not sure he'll survive prison

George Santos, the former New York lawmaker who was sentenced to prison for fraud…

Group chases down accused rapist who attacked Florida girl, deputies say

MIAMI (WFLA) — When Mike Santiague saw Antwan Johnson, he knew something…

Red states adopt DOGE as governors embrace the cost-cutting brand

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The brash and chaotic first days of President Donald…

“Trump to Impose 30% Tariffs on EU and Mexico Starting August 1st”

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – President Donald Trump on Saturday announced he’s levying tariffs…

Mountain City Welcomes Back the Annual Sunflower Festival

MOUNTAIN CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — The annual Sunflower Festival returned to downtown…

Insight from Champaign Water Policy Director on Algae Bloom Issue in Mattoon

MATTOON, Ill. (WCIA) — The Mattoon tap water is still ruled unsafe…