HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – On July 12, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers responded to a call reporting three jet skis racing through a marked slow‑speed zone on local waterways. When the officer arrived, he identified two jet skis that matched the description and ordered the riders to stop. Instead, the two men accelerated, racing through the restricted area at high speed.
Arrests and Charges
FWC later used surveillance video, witness statements and mobile‑phone data to pinpoint the individuals responsible. The agency served arrest warrants on Friday for 25‑year‑old Michell Herrera and 23‑year‑old Richer Carmenate. Both were taken into custody and one of the jet skis was impounded.
The pair face several felony counts, including fleeing to elude law enforcement, resisting without violence, interference with an FWC officer and violating the slow‑speed zone. Additional citations cite improper display of a registration number, operating a vessel with an expired registration and failing to update an address on a driver’s license.
Safety Concerns Highlighted by Officials
Capt. Mathew Dallarosa, Pinellas County Area Supervisor for the FWC, stressed that reckless watercraft behavior creates serious hazards for everyone using public waters. “Fleeing from law enforcement is not just an attempt to escape arrest, it is a reckless decision that endangers the boating public,” he said. “Our waterways are meant to be a safe place for recreation, not an escape route from accountability. The FWC will always work to find those who threaten safety on the water and hold them accountable for their actions.”
What Residents Can Do
Authorities encourage anyone who witnesses unsafe boating or wildlife violations to call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888‑404‑3922. Prompt reporting helps officers intervene quickly and keep Florida’s waterways safe for families and anglers.
Details Still Unclear
While the incident occurred within Hillsborough County, officials have not disclosed the exact body of water where the chase unfolded. The investigation remains ongoing, and further legal proceedings are expected as the case moves through the courts.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
