Arrest Made in February Boat Arson
Man told teens to torch boat while he was at work

Posted Monday, May 24, 2010

 
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Lower Keys - A Big Coppitt Key man is under arrest, accused of paying someone to burn a boat in February.

According to investigations by Detective Donald Catala, 39 year old David Kelley told a son and several of his son's friends he'd pay them $100.00 to set a boat on fire. The boat was at Keys Marine Services on Stock Island. In 2009, Kelley was
arrested after he was caught shooting an assault rifle into a building on Rockland Key. In the building was the boat, which sustained damage from the bullets. Kelley agreed to pay for the damage and the owner took the boat to Keys Marine Services for
those repairs.

On the day the final payment for repairs was due, the owner called Kelley and told him he had three days to drop off the payment. That same night, the boat was torched. Witnesses said they saw a young man run from the area and jump into a car.
A short time later, Deputy Evan Calhoun stopped the fleeing car and arrested 17 year old Daniel Drago for setting fire to the boat. He'd thrown gasoline in the boat. When it didn't light immediately, he climbed up on the boat and threw a piece of
burning paper into the gasoline. There was an explosion which threw him a distance away and burned his arm.

Subsequent investigation revealed Kelley reportedly offered payment to a group of teens that included Drago. Kelley showed them where the boat was and allegedly told the teens not to set the fire until he was back at his place of business, so he
would have an alibi backed up by video surveillance cameras. When he was at work Kelley called them, telling them to go ahead.

After the car was stopped, Kelley showed up on the scene. Drago told investigators Kelley told him at the traffic stop he would give him $500.00 to keep his mouth shut.

The boat, valued at approximately $30,000.00, was a total loss. On Friday, Kelley was arrested and charged with being a principle in the second degree to arson and he was booked into jail. More arrests are expected in the case.