Woman critical after dive; instructor jailed
CITIZEN STAFF
A Canton, Ohio, woman was taken to Mariners Hospital in critical condition Saturday morning after losing consciousness toward the end of her dive with Horizon Divers in Key Largo.
During the investigation that followed, an employee of the dive charter company was arrested on charges of obstruction of a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest and destruction of evidence.
Kendra Motter, 40, was reportedly diving with her husband at the time of the incident, according to a Sheriff's Office press release. She was brought to the Horizon Divers boat, returned to shore and taken to Mariners Hospital in Tavernier, where she remained in critical condition Sunday night, Sheriff's spokeswoman Becky Herrin said in a written release.
As deputies were investigating the dive incident, Deputy Julie Smith was attempting to take Motter's dive equipment into custody a standard procedure in the investigation of such incidents. Michael Ryan, 53, an employee of Horizon Divers who listed his occupation as dive instructor, offered to help by removing the equipment from the boat. Instead of giving the equipment to the deputy, he walked with it to a hose and began to hose it off, according to Sheriff's Office reports.
Smith ordered him to stop immediately, telling him the equipment was part of an investigation and could not be tampered with. Ryan reportedly ignored the deputy's orders and continued to rinse the equipment. He told her he was an ex-law enforcement officer and a diver and "knew what he was doing," according to Sheriff's Office reports.
He then picked up Motter's dive computer, attached to the equipment, and reportedly appeared to be attempting to alter it. Smith tried to take it from him, but he pushed her away, reports state.
The deputy called for backup and when other deputies arrived they arrested Ryan and took him to the Monroe County Detention Center.
CITIZEN STAFF
A Canton, Ohio, woman was taken to Mariners Hospital in critical condition Saturday morning after losing consciousness toward the end of her dive with Horizon Divers in Key Largo.
During the investigation that followed, an employee of the dive charter company was arrested on charges of obstruction of a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest and destruction of evidence.
Kendra Motter, 40, was reportedly diving with her husband at the time of the incident, according to a Sheriff's Office press release. She was brought to the Horizon Divers boat, returned to shore and taken to Mariners Hospital in Tavernier, where she remained in critical condition Sunday night, Sheriff's spokeswoman Becky Herrin said in a written release.
As deputies were investigating the dive incident, Deputy Julie Smith was attempting to take Motter's dive equipment into custody a standard procedure in the investigation of such incidents. Michael Ryan, 53, an employee of Horizon Divers who listed his occupation as dive instructor, offered to help by removing the equipment from the boat. Instead of giving the equipment to the deputy, he walked with it to a hose and began to hose it off, according to Sheriff's Office reports.
Smith ordered him to stop immediately, telling him the equipment was part of an investigation and could not be tampered with. Ryan reportedly ignored the deputy's orders and continued to rinse the equipment. He told her he was an ex-law enforcement officer and a diver and "knew what he was doing," according to Sheriff's Office reports.
He then picked up Motter's dive computer, attached to the equipment, and reportedly appeared to be attempting to alter it. Smith tried to take it from him, but he pushed her away, reports state.
The deputy called for backup and when other deputies arrived they arrested Ryan and took him to the Monroe County Detention Center.
