CLEARWATER -- A 29-year-old sailboat owner is facing a manslaughter charge after a man who had been a passenger on his boat drowned in the Intracoastal.
Police say the victim, 48-year-old Lonnie Wilson, lived on a sailboat usually based at Clearwater Marina. Wilson was a passenger on Shane Dugan's Catalina sailboat on the night of Friday, December 3rd. There was an argument and, according to the arrest affidavit, Dugan grabbed Wilson by his jacket and threw him into the water. He then told a third person to take off with the boat, not making any attempt to rescue Wilson.
Wilson's body was found by a boater about a mile and a half off Sand Key the next day.
Police don't believe it to be self-defene and there were no signs of intoxication, alcohol or drugs.
Dugan was arrested Friday (10th) and is out of jail on $20,000 bond.
Listen to an interview with Clearwater Police spokesman Rob Shaw below:
Photo: CPD/Pinellas County Sheriff/Canva