Florida officer Jared Stiltner under fire for wrongful boating arrest
A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officer, Jared Stiltner, is under public scrutiny following a wrongful arrest during a routine boating safety inspection.
The incident, which took place on the Loxahatchee River on August 21, 2024, involved a man boating with his pregnant wife, children, and family friends.
Stiltner, part of the FWC Impairment Task Force, stopped the vessel on suspicion of Boating Under the Influence (BUI). Despite the field sobriety test results indicating no signs of impairment, the officer proceeded with the arrest.
Bodycam footage shared online by the Donny Rapture YouTube channel captured the distressing scene, showing the man being detained in front of his family.
Wrongfully denying someone their God-given liberties is a serious offense. What happened to this man is abhorrent and a clear miscarriage of justice. And in front of his wife and children?! Is Officer Stiltner still with @MyFWC? Is this the first time he has arrested someone… https://t.co/rSAAhkIYNE
— Abraham López (@AbeLopezFL) December 23, 2024
The arrest report detailed the stop, highlighting the vessel's approach to a Slow Speed Minimum Wake Zone. Critics, however, argue that the arrest lacked probable cause. The victim has since vowed to fight for justice, citing humiliation and wrongful treatment.
In response to public outcry, a request under Florida’s Sunshine Law has been filed to review Officer Stiltner’s record. While the state has acknowledged the request, the timeline for disclosure remains uncertain.