CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (WWSB) – After a viral video showing a charter boat captain stepping onto the boat of another person during an altercation was posted, Punta Gorda Police and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission are investigating.

A release from Punta Gorda Police stated they are investigating a trespassing incident.

“The Punta Gorda Police Department is aware of the incident involving a dispute between two adult boaters under the Barron Collier Bridge on April 1, 2025. A police report has been filed with the department, and the incident is currently under investigation. The event has garnered significant attention on social media, and we are receiving numerous calls to dispatch requesting that the department take action. Please do not call to report this situation; it is currently being investigated by both the Punta Gorda Police and FWC. Additional calls to our dispatch could slow our response to situations that require immediate attention.” reads a statement from the department.

The video, posted by Gage Towles on YouTube and Facebook, shows a charter captain accusing Towles of boating without lights.

Charges have not yet been filed so ABC7 is not naming the captain at this time. He uses a slur toward Towles and begins swearing, boarding his boat. The main states that his is a veteran and Towles appears to deescalate the situation by thanking him for his service.

North Port Fire Rescue confirmed that one of its employees was on the charter boat and released a statement. The employee was a passenger only on the charter boat and was not involved.

ABC7 has reached out to an attorney for the charter boat captain for a statement.

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