A Florida man was arrested after he was caught in a viral video recklessly riding a jet ski and knocking a fisherman off his kayak.
On October 27, TikTok user shorefloats posted a video asking for the public's help in identifying the unknown jet skier. The footage shows the jet skier approaching the boat of the coastal buoy, causing a wake that throws the kayak off course. Moments later, the main jet skier and a second man on the jet ski begin circling the kayak menacingly before launching off, creating a wave that causes the shore buoys (and some of their expensive equipment) to topple into the water.
@coastalfloats So this happened today. The man left me stranded between shores. Put on your life jacket!
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Eagle-eyed commentators claimed that the attacker was Phillip Bunch. The video showed him recording a jet ski, 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 booked on five additional charges: failure to report a cruise ship accident, leaving the scene of an accident, reckless operation, resisting law enforcement, and domestic battery. He is no longer in custody, according to Nassau County inmate records. According to Coastfloats' tracking video, Bunch was arrested a total of 35 times. Many of these arrests are for domestic battery and reckless/drunk driving. He also has a 2022 charge of methamphetamine trafficking and a charge from September for speeding in a boat's idle zone.
In the second video, the victim is seen unpacking his wet equipment after the incident. “This is about a $4,000 camera that sits in the water,” Coastfloats says, holding out a dripping digital camera.
@coastalfloats Part 2. We both have consequences.
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“The game warden/GFP will take anything he wants from that idiot. Including all his toys!!” “Get a judgment against them, then file a lien… you'll eventually get your money,” another vindictive commenter wrote, “He'll probably have to pay you to complete parole.”
Bunch appeared before Judge Steven M. Fahlgren on Monday. It is not clear when he will appear for the next hearing.