A 31-year-old parolee is facing charges including grand theft vessel after an alleged attempt to sail away with an 80-foot cabin cruiser, leading to another man’s hospitalization.
Port of San Diego Harbor Police say Joshua Collins of San Diego was arrested Thursday morning after the incident at the Marriott Marina.
Harbor police reported multiple 911 calls of a yacht theft taking place at the 333 W. Harbor Drive marina.
Witnesses reported seeing a male climb over the marina security gates and board the cruiser, harbor police said.
“The vessel was removed from the dock and drifted into the adjacent dock,” police said. “A vessel owner from the adjacent dock suffered a head injury and fell into the water while attempting to prevent the stolen vessel from drifting into his vessel.”
The would-be boat rescuer was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
“Another vessel owner was able to attach a line from the stolen vessel to his dinghy and hold the stolen vessel in place until Harbor Police arrived,” said a statement. “Harbor Police boarded the stolen vessel and took the suspect into custody.”
The incident is still under investigation by the Harbor Police Department.
