Teen charged with burning boat on Stock Island
No motive has been determined, however the boat is a total loss

Posted Wednesday, February 24, 2010

 
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Stock Island - A 17 year old Big Coppitt teen was arrested after burning a boat stored at a business on 5th Avenue, Stock Island Tuesday night.

Witnesses say they saw 17 year old Daniel Drago run from the 21 foot Nautico Catamaran just before it exploded into flames at 10 p.m. The boat was on a trailer at Keys Marine Service and Salvage being repaired at the time. Drago reportedly
jumped a fence and ran, falling down as the explosion occurred. He got up and jumped into a car parked nearby - a red two door older model Honda which witnesses say had a loud muffler.

Deputy Evan Calhoun heard a notice to be on the lookout for the car on his police radio as he was responding to the location of the fire. He began looking for the car and spotted it northbound on U.S. One. He pulled it over at the 9.5 mile marker and
found five people inside, including Drago. Sgt. Tom Walker backed him up on the traffic stop.

During questioning, two of the men in the car said the car's driver got a cell phone car from Drago telling him it was an emergency and he needed to be picked up on 5th Street on Stock Island. Deputy Calhoun said he saw fresh burns on Drago's arm and
hand. He was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and baggy jeans - the same clothing described on the person fleeing from the boat fire.

Drago was arrested and charged with arson, felony criminal mischief, burglary and trespassing and he was booked at the Monroe County Detention Center. The boat and it's 150 horsepower Mercury engine appear to be a total loss. The Fire Marshall's
Office is investigating. More arrests may be pending in the case.