Westport Teen Arrested Via Warrant For Boat Joy Ride Incident

The following arrest information was provided by the Westport Police Department. It does not indicate convictions.

Joseph Cohen, 18, of Harbor Road was arrested via warrant and charged with reckless operation of a water vessel, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of alcohol by a minor in relation to a boating incident that occurred on June 28 on Long Island Sound near the mouth of the Saugatuck River.

Police said officers responded to a report of a vessel in distress and people in the water yelling for help in the Saugatuck River off Harbor Road. Police said several officers responded on shore and the Marine Division responded and located an unoccupied vessel driving in tight circles at a high rate of speed in the area between Cedar Point Yacht Club and Longshore Marina, on the south side of the channel.

Police said officers searched the waters around the vessel to try to locate any people however they found no one. The boat eventually ran out of gas and was towed to Compo Marina.

Police said they learned that the boat was registered to a resident on Harbor Road, however when the owner was contacted, he had no knowledge of anyone being on his boat. Through further investigation it was determined that the registered owner’s son (Cohen) and two other occupants had taken the vessel out without the owner’s knowledge.

The report does not indicate whether the occupants jumped or fell from the vessel.

Police said they learned that the occupants of the boat were picked up in the water by another party and dropped off at a dock on Harbor Road. Police said no one was injured.

Police said when the boat was towed back to Compo Marina, in plain view on the vessel was a 30 pack of beer and a bottle of vodka. Also located was marijuana (under four ounces) and paraphernalia.

Cohen was released after posting bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on August 11.

Other reports:

Brian Mantone, 27, of Stratford was arrested via warrant for failure to pay or plead on an infraction. Police said they did not have a record of the original charge. Mantone reportedly turned himself into police upon learning of the warrant for his arrest. He is scheduled to appear in court on August 11.