Marathon, FL - A Marathon man is facing charges after allegedly throwing a hatchet at another boater.
According to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, the suspect, identified as 32-year-old man Bertil James Haney, allegedly yelled racial slurs at the victim before hurling the hatchet on Tuesday.
The hatchet narrowly missed the victim and his dog, while shattering the boat's cabin window.
Witness accounts corroborated the victim's story, stating they heard racial slurs and saw Haney fleeing the scene.
Haney told deputies he was struck by a hammer from another vessel while on his dinghy to buy cigarettes.
However, deputies found no clear evidence to support this claim.
Haney was arrested on charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, throwing a missile into a vehicle, and criminal mischief.
He is currently being held on a $25,000 bond in the MCSO Key West jail facility.
MCSO records indicate Haney was arrested in October 2023 on burglary with assault or battery charges and completed probation just last month after pleading no contest to a lesser charge of criminal mischief.