The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office arrested the captain of a shrimping boat after ship-to-ship combat broke out between him and another captain while sailing near New Orleans East.
35-year-old Casey Russell, of Slidell, was taken into custody after the altercation. Authorities say Russell was angry at another shrimping captain who was “in his spot,” anchored by Rigolets Pass, near Geoghegan Canal and New Orleans East.
Russell reportedly dropped his boat's anchor and began circling the victim's boat, wrapping the anchor in the other boat's nets and lines.
After becoming entangled, Russell allegedly dragged the other boat away from where it was fishing, damaging the other vessel and causing it to take on water.
Deputies arrested Russell on charges of aggravated criminal damage to property. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries also cited him for interfering with another commercial fisherman.
He was released Thursday on a $7,500 bond.