Category - Outdoors
JetSkier Arrested After Viral TikTok Showed Him Capsizing Fisherman
A Florida man has been arrested after being caught in a viral video recklessly riding a jetski and knocking a fisherman out of a kayak.
On Oct. 27, TikTok user coastalfloats posted a video asking for the public’s help in identifying the unknown jet skier. It shows the jet skier approach coastalfloat’s boat, causing a wake which rocks the kayak off course. Moments later, the main jet skier and a second man on a jet ski begin circling the kayak threateningly before darting off, creating a wake which topples coastalfloats (and some of his pricey equipment) into the water.
@coastalfloats So this happened today. Guy left me bobbing in the intercoastal. Wear your lifevest!
♬ original sound - coastalfloats
Eagle-eyed commenters alleged the aggressor was one Phillip Bunch. His jet ski registration was visible in the video, and some reported that his Facebook profile picture showed him on a jet ski. Bunch has since been arrested and charged with felony criminal mischief and battery.
The day after his arrest, Bunch was hit with five additional charges: failing to report a boat vessel accident, leaving the scene of an accident, reckless operation, resisting law enforcement, and domestic battery. He is no longer in custody, per the Nassau County inmate registry. According to a follow-up video from coastalfloats, Bunch has been arrested a total of 35 times. Several of those arrests are for domestic battery and reckless/intoxicated driving. He also has a 2022 charge for trafficking in methamphetamine, and one from September for excessive speeds in a boat idling zone.
In the second video, the victim can be seen unpacking his sodden equipment in the incident’s aftermath. “This is about $4,000 worth of camera sitting in the water,” coastalfloats says as he holds forth a digital camera that’s dripping water.
@coastalfloats Part 2. Both of us have consequences.
♬ original sound - coastalfloats
“Game warden/GFP will take anything he wants from that douche. Including all his toys!!” one user wrote of Bunch. “Get a judgment against them then file liens…eventually you will get paid,” another vengeance-minded commenter offered. “He likely will have to pay you to complete probation or anything,” another said.
Bunch appeared before Judge Steven M. Fahlgren on Monday. It’s not clear when he will next appear in court.