Background: The YouTube video taken by Gage Towles allegedly showing Brock Horner threatening him (SixFourFishing/YouTube). Inset: Brock Horner (Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office).
A Florida man caught on video allegedly climbing on board another man’s boat and threatening him now faces felony burglary charges.
Brock Horner, 40, was arrested by the Punta Gorda Police Department on April 4, after a video in which he can be heard cursing out another boater went viral.
In a press release, police said that Horner was taken into custody and booked into the Charlotte County Jail following an investigation into the alleged April 1, incident. According to police, Horner “pulled his vessel alongside the victim’s boat without permission and unlawfully boarded it” then “threatened the victim, escalating the situation into a criminal offense.”
The alleged victim, 22-year-old Gage Towles, posted the rage-filled exchange on YouTube, where it has been viewed nearly 365,000 times as of this writing.
In the video taken on the waters of Charlotte Harbor, Horner can be heard yelling at Towles, “You cussing me out?” Towles said in the video that Horner was mistaking him for another boater who didn’t have his lights on, but Horner continued yelling at Towles, who then accused Horner of aggressive boating.
“Bro, you can’t come flying through the middle of the f— bridge,” Towles said to Horner.
Horner responded, “Bulls—, yes I can!”
The argument escalated, with Horner continuing to yell at Towles, who was in his boat alone. Horner was accompanied by several other men. As the verbal fight continued, Horner’s boat moved closer to Towles as Horner exclaimed, “I am the best charter captain you will ever meet in your motherf—ing life!”
Once Horner’s boat was close enough to Towles, the younger boater can be heard panicking as Horner allegedly boarded the other boat and continued to scream at him. Horner’s alleged verbal attack went on even after Towles can be heard apologizing to him.
During a press conference on April 5, the Punta Gorda Police Department stated that Horner allegedly grabbed Towles while he was illegally on board the younger man’s boat. Separate investigations are also underway at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and U.S. Coast Guard, which could possibly result in additional charges against Horner.
In a statement to local NBC affiliate WBBH, Horner’s attorney Scott Weinberg said that his client “sincerely apologizes to Gage, to Gage’s family, and to anyone who was frightened or upset by what they saw. He is deeply sorry.” He added, “Brock is not proud of how he acted. But it’s important to remember: we are not the sum of our worst day. That video captured one moment—not the whole of who he is.”
Weinberg went on to say that Horner’s “business has been destroyed, his reputation damaged,” and that his wife and mother have reportedly been threatened.
He added that his client “suffered a traumatic brain injury in combat. He is recognized as 100% disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs. That’s not an excuse — but it is part of his story.”
Horner posted $20,000 bond and was released from custody on April 5.
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