victoria man steals yacht

Wanted Victoria man arrested after dramatic U.S. Coast Guard rescue of stolen yacht

Jericho Labonte turned up in northwestern Oregon, leaving a bizarre trail involving dead fish, the Goonies' house, and a stolen yacht.

You can save this article by registering for free here . Or sign-in if you have an account.

Article content

A Victoria man wanted on a B.C.-wide warrant has been arrested in Oregon after a dramatic rescue from a yacht caught in the rough, churning waters of the Columbia River.

Jericho Labonte is wanted by police for harassment, mischief and failure to comply from an incident in Victoria last October. Last month, Victoria police issued an alert seeking the public’s assistance in locating the 36-year-old, who they believe posed a risk to public safety.

Labonte turned up in northwestern Oregon, leaving a bizarre trail involving dead fish, the Goonies’ house, and a stolen yacht.

On Friday morning, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued a mayday call from a yacht in trouble at the mouth of the Columbia River and triangulated the vessel’s location. The rescue was captured in a stunning video which shows a rescue swimmer lowered by cable from a helicopter, swimming to the yacht fondering in heavy surf and massive waves.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

• Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
• Get exclusive access to the Vancouver Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
• Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
• Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
• Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

• Access articles from across Canada with one account.
• Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
• Enjoy additional articles per month.
• Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Sign In or Create an Account

(1/4) #BreakingNews - Talk about arriving in the nick of time! While conducting a training mission at the mouth of the Columbia River, 2 Coast Guard air crews received a #MAYDAY broadcast from the master of the P/C Sandpiper. After notifying watchstanders at Sector Columbia River pic.twitter.com/CtYSgpdPUG — USCGPacificNorthwest (@USCGPacificNW) February 3, 2023

As the swimmer approached the vessel, a large wave slammed into it, rolling the boat over and throwing a man, later identified as Labonte, into the water.

The swimmer reached Labonte and pulled him to safety.

Labonte was flown to a Coast Guard base where medics treated him for mild hypothermia and took him to a hospital.

Police in Astoria had already been looking for Labonte since Wednesday, although they didn’t know who he was at the time.

They were looking for a man who had posted a video of himself on social media placing a dead fish on the front porch of the Goonies’ house — featured in the 1985 Steven Spielberg film The Goonies and one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions — and dancing around the property, said Astoria Police Chief Stacy Kelly.

On Friday, after the rescue, police got a call from port security telling them that the vessel involved in the rescue had been stolen. At the same time, the police department also got calls from several citizens identifying the rescued victim as Labonte.

“It’s been a really odd 48 hours,” Kelly said.

By the time police identified him as the suspect, Labonte had already been released from hospital.

Police found Labonte at a low-barrier shelter at a nearby town 35 km south of Astoria. He was taken into custody to face charges of theft, endangering another person, unauthorized use of a vehicle and criminal mischief.

[email protected]

twitter.com/cherylchan

— with files from Associated Press

Support our journalism: Our in-depth journalism is possible thanks to the support of our subscribers. For just $3.50 per week, you can get unlimited, ad-lite access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Vancouver Sun | The Province .

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.

Murder charge laid in death of woman during Surrey home invasion

Canada day events 2024: where to celebrate around metro vancouver, northern b.c. rancher faces $545,000 fines for damage to fish habitat.

Rising windshield claims costing ICBC more than $100 million each year

A deadly dinner party in richmond leaves unanswered questions on the table.

This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here . By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy .

You've reached the 20 article limit.

You can manage saved articles in your account.

and save up to 100 articles!

Looks like you've reached your saved article limit!

You can manage your saved articles in your account and clicking the X located at the bottom right of the article.

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Arrest made in stolen yacht rescue, ‘Goonies’ fish incident

A U.S. Coast Guard video captured a dramatic rescue showing a swimmer approaching a boat as heavy waves hit off Washington and Oregon (Feb. 3)

In this photo provided by the U.S Coast Guard Pacific Northwest, Coast Guard personnel help carry a swimmer from a rescue helicopter after he was rescued from the mouth of the Columbia River after his boat was capsized by a giant wave on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, at Coast Guard Base Astoria, Ore. A newly minted Coast Guard rescue swimmer saved the man’s life at the mouth of the river between Oregon and Washington state. (AET1 Kyle Turcotte/U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest via AP)

• Copy Link copied

In this photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest, a Coast Guard ship, left, attempts to a rescue a distressed yacht at the mouth of the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington state on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023. A newly minted Coast Guard rescue swimmer saved the life of a man who was piloting the yacht. (AET1 Kyle Turcotte/U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest via AP)

FILE - The house featured in the Steven Spielberg film “The Goonies” is viewed in Astoria, Ore., May 24, 2001. A man who was saved by a Coast Guard rescue swimmer at the mouth of the Columbia River on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, as a massive wave overturned the yacht he was piloting turned out to be wanted by police for a bizarre incident in which he allegedly left a dead fish at the Astoria home. AP Photo/Stepanie Firth, File)

SEATTLE (AP) — A stolen yacht. A dramatic Coast Guard rescue . A dead fish. And the famed home featured in the classic 1985 film “The Goonies.”

Combined, Oregon police called it a series of “really odd” events along the Pacific Northwest coast spanning 48 hours that concluded Friday night with the arrest of a Canadian man.

Jericho Wolf Labonte, 35, of Victoria, British Columbia, was taken into custody in the northwestern Oregon resort town of Seaside, police said in a news release.

He’d been pulled from the ocean hours earlier by a Coast Guard swimmer, just after the yacht he was piloting capsized amid high waves. He was briefly hospitalized for mild hypothermia.

Labonte was discharged before authorities in nearby Astoria, Oregon, saw the rescue video and said they recognized him as the same person who covered over security cameras at the “Goonies” house and left the fish on the porch.

Police in Seaside, about 17 miles south of Astoria, said they found Labonte on Friday evening at a homeless shelter where he was staying “under an alias,” and arrested him on charges of theft, criminal mischief, endangering another person and unauthorized use of a vehicle.

He’s also wanted in Canada for “other cases,” Seaside police said.

It wasn’t immediately clear Sunday whether Labonte had an attorney who could comment on his behalf.

“It’s been a really odd 48 hours,” Astoria Police Chief Stacy Kelly said Friday.

Police had been looking for Labonte since Wednesday, when an acquaintance alerted them to a video Labonte posted on social media of himself leaving a dead fish at the “Goonies” house and dancing around the property, Kelly said. The Victorian home was recently sold to a fan of the film , after being listed for $1.7 million.

Friday afternoon, before Labonte’s arrest, the Coast Guard shared stunning video of the rescue by Petty Officer 1st Class Branch Walton, a newly minted rescue swimmer from Greenville, South Carolina.

The 35-foot (11-meter) yacht had been reported stolen by its owner Friday afternoon. As the swimmer approached, a large wave slammed into the vessel, rolling it over and throwing a man, later identified as Labonte, into the water.

The mouth of the Columbia, the largest North American river flowing into the Pacific Ocean, is known as “the graveyard of the Pacific” for its notoriously rough seas.

Associated Press writer Rio Yamat reported from Las Vegas.

• Join Our Newsletter
• Post a Listing
• Your Listings
• Your Profile
• Your Subscriptions
• Payment History
• Sign up for Daily Headlines
• Sign up for Notifications

Watch: Fugitive from Victoria rescued by U.S. Coast Guard after stolen yacht flips

• Share by Email
• Share on Facebook
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share via Text Message

A wild story involving a dead fish, a cult movie, a boat theft and a death-defying rescue at sea has culminated in a wanted Victoria man being locked up in Oregon.

It all started Wednesday, about 6 p.m., when Astoria police received a call from a concerned citizen telling them that Jericho Wolf Labonte had posted a disturbing video on his Facebook page showing him putting a dead fish on the porch of The Goonies house, Police Chief Stacy Kelly said Saturday.

The house, where the 1985 movie The Goonies was filmed, has become an unofficial tourist attraction in a residential neighbourhood, Kelly said.

“People live there. It’s not a museum. However, we get visitors constantly who go up there, take pictures in front of it. … It’s like the movie that doesn’t die,” Kelly said. “It has quite the following.”

Labonte put the fish on the porch, covered the security cameras with stickers, then danced around the property and the property next door, “just acting really odd,” said Kelly.

Police began looking for Labonte to arrest him and charge him with criminal mischief.

Then Friday, the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest posted videos on Twitter of an amazing rescue. The posts said two air crews were on a training mission at the mouth of the Columbia River when they received a mayday call from a yacht, floundering in the surf.

Lifeboats were launched but the ocean swells made it too dangerous to attempt a rescue. So the air crew lowered a swimmer by cable to rescue a man on board.

As the swimmer neared the vessel it was struck by a 10-metre wave. The boat rolled over, throwing the man into the rough sea. The swimmer pulled the man to safety and he was flown to Coast Guard Base Astoria, where paramedics were waiting to take him to hospital.

When the Port of Astoria security chief saw the videos, he recognized the $160,000 yacht and contacted the owner to let him know it had been stolen, said Kelly. The security chief also called police, who saw the video, recognized Labonte and put it all together.

Police called the coast guard and found out that Labonte had already been discharged from hospital.

Later Friday evening, police received a report that Labonte was at a warming shelter for the homeless in Seaside. Seaside police, Oregon State police and Clatsop County Sheriff found him and took him into custody.

On Jan. 19, Victoria police issued a public alert for Labonte, who is wanted B.C.-wide on charges of criminal harassment, mischief and three breaches.

“It is believed that Jericho Labonte is travelling to the Victoria area and that he may pose a risk to public safety. If you see Jericho Labonte, do not approach him and call 911,” said the alert.

Kelly said he didn’t know if Labonte would be handed over to Canadian authorities.

The U.S. Coast Guard contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement and they are “very interested in him because he is in our country illegally. He did not enter through a port correctly,” said Kelly. “They actually have a history on him. They know where he enters and how he enters so they were very interested in getting hold of him.”

Police have reports that the boat broke apart. Pieces have washed up on a beach in Washington, directly across from Astoria.

Astoria police are charging Labonte with theft, endangering another person, unauthorized use of the vessel, in addition to criminal mischief relating to the dead fish.

“It’s been one crazy couple of days,” said the police chief. “It’s been non-stop and it’s a crazy story. … We’ll deal with it.”

[email protected]

• See a typo/mistake?
• Have a story/tip?

This has been shared 0 times

More local news.

Featured Flyer

Man rescued from sinking yacht in Oregon allegedly left dead fish at 'Goonies' house days earlier

Police in Astoria, Oregon, said the yacht had been stolen.

A man saved from a sinking yacht was later identified as a wanted suspect who allegedly left a fish on the porch of the house from “The Goonies” in Oregon, police said.

The yacht had been stolen and the man, identified as Jericho Labonte, 35, was arrested after the rescue, police in Astoria, Oregon, said.

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Pacific Northwest district on Friday released a video of a yacht in danger in high waves at the mouth of the Colombia River.

“The surf made rescue by boat dangerous, so the aircrew decided to lower the rescue swimmer and have the owner enter the water for rescue,” the Coast Guard said. “As he entered the water the vessel capsized but the rescue swimmer was able to safely recover the individual.”

After the Coast Guard posted the video, police in Astoria, Oregon, said they began receiving calls about both the rescued man and the vessel.

“On February 3, 2023, we received a call from Port Security Chief Matt Hansen informing us that the vessel involved in the Coast Guard rescue earlier in the day was stolen from the Port of Astoria,” the department said in a news release . “He recognized the vessel on the video, contacted the owner, and confirmed that it had been stolen.”

Calls also began coming in about the man who had been rescued, with locals identifying him as Labonte, police said. Police in Victoria, British Columbia, had been searching for Labonte since at least Jan. 19, when they issued a province-wide arrest warrant for him for five unendorsed warrants for charges of criminal harassment, mischief and three counts of failure to comply.

Police in Oregon said Labonte was released from the hospital on Friday before they realized who he was.

“He had been transported to Columbia Memorial Hospital after the rescue as a precaution and was discharged before being identified as the suspect,” Astoria police officials said.

Astoria Police said they had added their own charges against Labonte, saying in press release that he was wanted on charges including theft, endangering another person, unauthorized use of a vehicle and criminal mischief.

They said they had received a call on Feb. 1 saying that Labonte “had posted a video of himself on Facebook placing a dead fish on the front porch of the Goonies’ house.”

Labonte was arrested on Friday evening at the Seaside Warming Center, a shelter in Astoria, police said.

Trending Reader Picks

Biden's weakness displayed at debate: ANALYSIS

• Jun 27, 11:34 PM

1st Biden-Trump debate: What time, how to watch

• Jun 27, 8:40 AM

Supreme Court poised to issue key rulings

• Jun 27, 12:09 PM

Multivitamins don't help you live longer: Study

• Jun 26, 7:16 PM

Parents at beach with kids die in rip current

• Jun 21, 8:38 AM

ABC News Live

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

Coast Guard Swimmer Recounts Dramatic Rescue of Alleged Oregon Yacht Thief and ‘Goonies’ Prankster

On the morning the U.S. Coast Guard in Astoria received a frantic mayday call from a yacht sinking near the treacherous mouth of the Columbia River, John “Branch” Walton was in his fifth and final day of advanced training as a rescue swimmer.

Walton and his classmates leapt at the chance to respond. But it was a quick game of rock-paper-scissors that settled which swimmer would plunge into the churning, frigid waters nearby. Walton won. He was the least experienced of the bunch.

“They all could have got it done, but they let me go,” Walton said. “I was kind of in disbelief, like, ‘Oh, is this really happening?’”

Unbeknownst to the 22-year-old who learned to swim only after joining the Coast Guard a few years earlier, he’d soon execute a very difficult rescue seamlessly. And he would be thrust into the national limelight as millions viewed video of his first real-world rescue, taken from a camera mounted to the Coast Guard helicopter that flew him to the imperiled boater. Walton was widely lauded for his courage and agility.

It wasn’t until later that day that Walton and others in the Coast Guard would learn the man he’d pulled from the stormy waters allegedly had stolen the $160,000 yacht and drawn the attention of Astoria police for placing a dead fish on the porch of the famous “Goonies” house days earlier.

Two 47-foot Coast Guard boats were the first to respond to the yacht’s 10 a.m. Feb. 3 mayday call. But crew members quickly realized they couldn’t attempt a rescue by boat. The seas were far too rough, and if they got too close the waves might slam their vessels into the disabled yacht as they attempted to bring the man onboard. Instead, they tossed a life jacket on a weighted line to the man, the yacht’s sole occupant. He slipped it on.

Already on the way was a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter. On board were flight mechanics Joseph Ivy and Kyle Turcotte and pilots Tripp Haas and Will Sirokman. Then there was Walton, wearing flippers, a mask, snorkel and a dry suit.

Walton said he felt secure attempting the rescue because his four companions were all experienced instructors from his previous week of training, and all the skills he needed were still fresh in his mind.

“I knew I was in good hands,” Walton said. “I had an amazing crew.”

Around 10:40 a.m., the crew lowered Walton by cable into 20-foot swells where the Columbia meets the Pacific Ocean, an area dubbed the “Graveyard of the Pacific” for the many hundreds of boats sunk and lives lost over the centuries.

There, miles west of Astoria, bobbed the disabled 35-foot yacht.

Walton unclipped himself from the cable and then bolted toward the yacht. Within seconds, he was treading water, trying to persuade the man who was standing at the stern to jump toward him, he said. But just then a powerful wave was forming. The man pointed at it, and Walton ducked underwater in an attempt to avoid the churn. It’s a move often used by surfers to avoid the full force of breaking waves.

“The wave was pretty violent; there’s not much you can do other than just kind of ride it out,” said Walton, likening the experience to tumbling around in a washing machine.

When Walton surfaced, he regained his bearings and saw the man a ways off. His helicopter crew lowered the cable and hook. He clipped in, and they swiftly flew him over to the man’s new location.

“They did a fantastic job of swooping right in and dropping that hook down,” Walton said. “I hooked in, and they just put me right on top of him.”

Walton and the crew figure that before Walton ever got to him, the boat that gave the man a life jacket saved his life. Otherwise, he likely wouldn’t have resurfaced once the wave hit him.

Walton said the man was eager to be rescued.

“He asked ‘What do I do?’” Walton recounted. “And I yelled at him, I said ‘Nothing. Don’t do anything. Just breathe.’”

Walton slipped a sling around him, and the helicopter crew hoisted them both to safety.

Once on the chopper, the man put his hand to his forehead and caught his breath. After Walton and one of the flight mechanics handed him blankets, the man laid down on the aircraft’s floor and pulled them over his head. He gave a name they would later learn was fake, then didn’t say much of anything, Walton said.

Meanwhile, the flight mechanic congratulated Walton on his first rescue – lifting both his arms to offer Walton two high-fives. Coast Guard video shows a beaming Walton.

It was several hours later that authorities learned the man’s real name: Jericho Wolf Labonte. But that was after the helicopter landed, an ambulance rushed him to Astoria’s Columbia Memorial Hospital to be treated for mild hypothermia and the 35-year-old was released into the community on his own.

Police had been looking for Labonte since Feb. 1, after the owners of the famed house from the 1985 movie, “The Goonies,” reported that a man fitting Labonte’s description left a dead fish on their front porch and covered the lenses of their security cameras in stickers. An Astoria resident also had reported Labonte posted a video of himself on Facebook chanting lines from the movie and walking up to the porch to show the dead fish.

As local police delved into who Labonte was, they learned authorities in Victoria, British Columbia, had issued five warrants for his arrest for alleged crimes that include “harassment” and “mischief.”

After the Coast Guard pulled Labonte from the mouth of the Columbia on Feb. 3, they learned he’d also allegedly stolen the yacht, the “Sandpiper,” from the Port of Astoria.

Police found and arrested Labonte about nine hours after the rescue, at a homeless shelter in nearby Seaside. Clatsop County prosecutors plan to charge Labonte with various crimes – possibly boat theft, criminal mischief and endangering the life of Walton by prompting the rescue – but say they haven’t yet because he’s currently being held at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Tacoma.

For Walton, that’s all beside the point. He was there to do what he’d trained for – save lives.

Walton had moved to Oregon only last year from North Carolina. He wasn’t aware of the mouth of the Columbia’s morbid history. And before he enlisted in the Coast Guard right out of high school, he had trouble making it from one side of a pool to the other.

“Before I joined, I definitely needed some help,” Walton said. “I couldn’t swim 50 yards, really.”

Getting to the point of expert swimmer and rescuer took months of hard work in the water and the classroom.

Training to become a rescue swimmer is so rigorous only about half of those who attempt the certification pass, said Coast Guard spokesperson Diolanda Caballero.

Each month, swimmers must pass a physical fitness test that includes at least 50 push-ups, a 500-yard crawl stroke in less than 12 minutes, swimming underwater for 25 yards and towing “a buddy” across 200 yards of water.

They also must train to become emergency medical technicians.

After earning his initial certification, Walton enrolled in advanced rescue swimmer training along the Oregon coast, chosen because of its particularly unforgiving waters.

Over the course of five days, swimmers work with helicopter crews to practice plunging themselves into heavy surf and plucking each other out. They dangle along cliff faces to practice vertical rescues and sometimes even swim into sea caves to prepare for every possible scenario.

Brian Kirkendall is a fellow rescue swimmer and the lead instructor at Advanced Helicopter Rescue School, where Walton spent the week training before the Feb. 3 rescue. Kirkendall said despite the cloud created by Labonte’s alleged shenanigans, the rescue was an example of the Coast Guard holding true to one of its missions.

“It’s incredibly inspiring to see our next generation coming up, willing to put it all on the line for a complete stranger,” Kirkendall said, adding he didn’t care about Labonte’s backstory.

“If someone needs help,” he said, “we’ll bring them back.”

In 2022, the Coast Guard district covering Oregon and Washington responded to more than 600 calls for help on the water. Calls include those as minor as a mariner’s emergency distress beacon mistakenly going off to as major as another dramatic helicopter rescue that took place just last week, about 30 miles north of Astoria, near Willapa Bay, Washington. The Coast Guard pulled two soaked men from an inflatable rescue raft in the dark of night after their 46-foot crabbing vessel sunk, but a third man was lost at sea.

The Coast Guard is undergoing a historic lull in recruitment, amid a nationwide labor shortage. In response, it has lowered barriers to recruitment, including by raising the maximum enlistment age to 42. Coast Guard officials hope stories such as Walton’s inspire others to join.

After Walton plucked Labonte from the mouth of the Columbia, he texted his mom the video and then phoned her “because I didn’t think it was going to get out or anything.”

Walton cracks up as he recalls how his mom had some thoughts to share about her son swimming so precariously close to the yacht: “She just said, ‘Maybe be a little farther away from the boat next time.’”

Other items that may interest you

Fed plan to kill owls to save other owls gets pushback from Washington lands commissioner

Thurston county man pleads guilty to sex-crime bust in longview, trump calls portland ‘ripped down’ in presidential debate, a rare comet will pass by earth for the first time in almost 70 years. will you be able to see it.

Wanted Victoria man arrested in U.S. after Coast Guard rescue, bizarre fish incident

A man who was saved by a Coast Guard rescue swimmer at the mouth of the Columbia River as a massive wave rolled the yacht he was piloting Friday was wanted for a bizarre incident in which police said he left a dead fish at the Astoria, Oregon, home featured in the classic 1985 film, “The Goonies.”

Officers had been looking for the man since Wednesday, when an acquaintance alerted them to a video he posted on social media of himself leaving the fish at the house and then dancing around the property, Astoria Police Chief Stacy Kelly said.

Kelly identified the man as Jericho Labonte, 35, of Victoria, British Columbia. Labonte is also wanted in British Columbia on criminal harassment, mischief and failure to comply cases from last fall, Kelly said.

Early Friday afternoon, the Coast Guard shared stunning video of a rescue made a few hours earlier in which a newly minted rescue swimmer lowered by cable from a helicopter swam to a 35-foot (11-metre) yacht that was struggling in heavy surf. As the swimmer approached the vessel, a large wave slammed into it, rolling the boat over and throwing a man, later identified as Labonte, into the water.

The swimmer, Petty Officer 1st Class Branch Walton, of Greenville, South Carolina, reached Labonte and pulled him to safety. The helicopter crew flew him to Coast Guard Base Astoria, where medics treated him for mild hypothermia and transported him to a hospital.

The yacht's owner, who lives in nearby Warrenton, Oregon, reported the vessel stolen later Friday, the police chief said.

The hospital had already released Labonte when police saw the Coast Guard photos and video and realized it was the same person who they said covered over security cameras at the Goonies house and left the dead fish on the porch.

Police said Saturday that Labonte had been taken into custody .

Kelly didn't know what kind of fish it was, but said police believed it was caught locally because after the video started circulating another person reported having taken Labonte fishing.

“It's been a really odd 48 hours,” Kelly said.

The mouth of the Columbia, the largest North American river flowing into the Pacific Ocean, is known as “the graveyard of the Pacific” for its notoriously rough seas. The Coast Guard received the yacht's mayday call around 10 a.m. Friday while conducting trainings nearby, Petty Officer Michael Clark said.

The mayday contained no information about location or the specific problem, but the agency roughly triangulated the vessel's location and nearby boat crews and a helicopter responded.

They found the P/C Sandpiper yacht taking on water in 20-foot (6-metre) seas, meaning the height of a wave from the previous trough could be as much as 40 feet (12 metres), Clark said.

Walton, who only recently graduated from the Coast Guard's rescue swimmer program, was lowered from the helicopter by a cable. Labonte climbed onto the stern and prepared to enter the water just as a huge wave slammed the craft, throwing him into the surf. The wave struck so violently that the vessel rolled completely over and wound up floating upright.

Walton said in an interview Friday that he planned to reach the man, get him in the water and hook him to a cable attached to the helicopter. Instead, the wave hit.

“I kind of got thrown around a little bit by the wave. When I came up I noticed the boat was pretty much in shambles,” Walton said.

He directed the helicopter to bring him to Labonte after spotting him in the surf a short distance away. The force of the wave had mostly knocked off his life jacket, Walton said.

Top Stories

Thieves stole $10K worth of ice baths from Langford CrossFit gym, RCMP say

Nursing shortage causing epidural delays in South Island's only maternity ward: BCNU

Man visits Canada on mission to hand-deliver Galápagos postcards to strangers around the world

B.C. establishes largest provincial park in a decade to protect threatened caribou

Mountie cleared of wrongdoing in B.C. porta-potty shooting

B.C. may join court challenge of federal equalization payments, Eby says

Richmond RCMP seek witnesses after man attacked, robbed by masked gang

Crane 'repeatedly left' hanging over Vancouver home caused 'considerable anxiety,' lawsuit claims

Ctvnews.ca top stories.

BREAKING | 'All hands on deck situation': City of Calgary declares state of local emergency over water main break

The City of Calgary declared a local state of emergency Saturday morning in response to the latest developments in a major water main break that is impacting the city.

Winning Lotto Max ticket for $55 million jackpot sold in GTA

A lucky lotto player in the Greater Toronto Area is waking up with millions more reasons to smile this morning.

U.K. royals unite on palace balcony as Princess of Wales returns to public view after cancer diagnosis

London put on a display of birthday pageantry Saturday for King Charles III, a military parade that marked the Princess of Wales ' first public appearance since her cancer diagnosis early this year.

BREAKING | Heavy police presence on Manitoulin Island due to armed standoff after attack

Police on Manitoulin Island are trying to peacefully resolve a standoff with an armed suspect on Assance Drive in M'Chigeeng First Nation on Saturday morning.

Police in Maine cancel shelter-in-place order after explosions and fire are reported

Police in Maine have canceled a shelter-in-place order in the city of Auburn after reporting that an armed person was in an area where a series of explosions and a house fire erupted early Saturday.

Trudeau calls into question findings of stunning watchdog foreign interference report

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has concerns with how conclusions were gathered in a spy watchdog report.

Alex Jones' personal assets to be sold to pay US$1.5B Sandy Hook debt. Company bankruptcy is dismissed

A federal judge on Friday ordered the liquidation of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' personal assets but dismissed his company's separate bankruptcy case, leaving the future of his Infowars media platform uncertain as he owes US$1.5 billion for his false claims that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax.

Men are being compared to rodents across the internet. But how do they feel about it?

It began, seemingly, with a few innocuous social media posts comparing Mike Faist, co-star of the titillating tennis throuple film “Challengers,” to a dormouse and soon, the complexity of the analogy snowballed to odd levels of specificity.

U.S. regulators investigating unusual 'Dutch roll' of a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max

Federal officials are investigating an unusual rolling motion during the flight of a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max.

Shopping Trends

The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop.  Read about us.

Editor's Picks

If you want to upgrade your summer wardrobe, try adding a few of these stylish pieces from amazon to your closet, if you're looking for a new face sunscreen, here are 16 that reviewers are loving right now, the 5 best ice cream makers in canada in 2024, tested and reviewed, 12 highly-reviewed backyard products you won't regret ordering, our guide to the best griddles in canada in 2024 (and where to get them), 15 products that'll get your bathroom clean, organized, and looking its best, 15 extremely practical graduation gifts, 20 last-minute father's day gifts that'll arrive on time, 14 father's day gift ideas they're guaranteed to love, 17 budget-friendly summer skincare essentials you'll want to add to your cart today, keep frizziness at bay with these 12 essential hair products, 15 waterproof mascaras that reviewers actually swear by, health & fitness, spikeball is one of the most popular outdoor games for summer, and here's why, 15 activewear pieces from amazon canada that have thousands of 5-star reviews, 15 useful camping products that won't take up a ton of space in your pack.

Vancouver actor, brewery raising awareness about blood donation needs, one can at a time

Lynn Johnston has always had the need for speed and regularly frequented the Mission Raceway Park before she was forced to slow down in June 2023.

Thieves managed to steal two large, portable ice baths from a CrossFit gym on Vancouver Island this week, according to local Mounties.

Man who stabbed Mexican tourist in Vancouver Tim Hortons 2 years ago released from prison, police warn

Vancouver police are warning the public that the man who stabbed a stranger in a downtown coffee shop in January 2022 has been released and will be living in the city again.

Hunter attacked after shooting bear in B.C.'s Okanagan

A hunter was attacked by a black bear near Summerland, B.C., this week after he shot and wounded the animal.

June snow in the forecast for some B.C. highways this weekend

The summer solstice is one week away, but B.C.'s mountain passes could look more like winter this weekend, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Pedestrian struck, killed by train in B.C. Interior

One person is dead after being struck by a train in Kamloops Thursday morning.

Oilers seek answers on brink of elimination in Stanley Cup Final

A lack of production is a big reason the Oilers are down 3-0 in the series against the Florida Panthers and searching for answers as they look to avoid being the first team swept in the final since the Washington Capitals in 1998.

More ASIRT transparency, oversight urged in wake of refused cases

Families and defence lawyers are raising concerns over what they call a troubling trend with the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team and the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service. They calling for more transparency and oversight into decisions against prosecuting police even after Alberta's police watchdog recommends it.

OPINION | Alberta’s diversity is its greatest strength

I love Alberta. That may sound obvious coming from someone who was born here, went to school here, and eventually became Premier.

Calgary water main repairs could take 3-5 more weeks, after scans reveal deficiencies in the pipe

Water restrictions could be in place for three to five more weeks in Calgary, after a scan of a broken water main revealed five more locations inside the pipe that are in need of repair.

City providing free daisies for Lethbridge to celebrate loved ones on Father’s Day

This Sunday is Father’s Day and the City of Lethbridge is helping those honour the memory of loved ones.

Jack Ady Cancer Centre unveils Amir and Saker Manji Healing Garden

The Amir and Saker Manji Healing Garden was named after Amir Manji, who went through his own cancer journey, and comes following a $500,000 donation toward the centre from his family.

Investigation underway into fatal pedestrian collision in Lethbridge

An investigation is underway into a fatal collision that left one woman dead Thursday night in Lethbridge.

Monument honouring 17 lives lost in Carberry bus crash to be unveiled Saturday

A new monument is set to be unveiled Saturday, as part of a ceremony honouring the victims of a fatal crash near Carberry, Man., exactly one year later.

'If they can run, I can run': 87-year-old set to complete 10th Manitoba Marathon race

Age may be just a number to George Steciuk, but it’s just one of many that add up to one inspirational athlete.

'I'm just thankful': Indigenous group graduates from University of Winnipeg

A first in the University of Winnipeg’s faculty of education was celebrated at convocation Friday.

Sask. Teachers' Federation agrees to binding arbitration to end contract dispute

The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) has agreed to binding arbitration with the province, which will put an end to current 'work to rule' job action and a contract dispute that has dragged out more than a year.

Here's what's happening in Regina this weekend

The weekend is fast approaching and there are plenty of things to do in the Queen City, including the farmers' market and pride parade on Saturday.

Sask. company fined $60K for illegally importing taxidermy mounts including baboons, giraffe, hippo

A Saskatchewan company has been fined $60,000 for illegally importing and possessing taxidermized animals that are considered protected wildlife, such as baboons, a giraffe and hippo.

'He killed her': Sask. judge finds Greg Fertuck guilty

Greg Fertuck has been found guilty of First Degree Murder and indignity to human remains in the death of his estranged wife.

One person in hospital with stab wound after police break up fight in Oshawa

One person was taken to hospital after police in Oshawa came across a fight Friday evening and found one person with a stab wound.

What you need to know about the whooping cough in Ontario

Whooping cough cases are on the rise in parts of Ontario and experts are reminding parents to remain vigilant as the illness can be most dangerous to young children.

McGill concerned about 'extremely alarming' poster for summer camp at pro-Palestinian encampment

McGill University says it will increase security near the pro-Palestinian encampment and elsewhere on campus following concerns about a promotional poster for a summer camp that has some questioning what it's really teaching.

Not all fathers are equal when it comes to separation rights in Quebec, says expert

While some fathers can afford to spend thousands of dollars to have a lawyer represent their interests, it's a different story for fathers who are poor or new to the country and unfamiliar with the workings of the Quebec legal system.

Venomous joro spider not likely to fly to Quebec, but brilliant invasive lanternfly is coming

Recent concern about a flying, yellow, invasive spider the size of a human hand entering Quebec is unfounded, according to experts in the field, while a brilliant, spotted insect is much greater concern.

Here are five places to drive to this summer from Ottawa

It's that time of the year to take a road trip and explore the hidden gems around Ottawa, as the summer begins and temperatures rise.

Problematic properties: What are they and what can you do about them?

The City of Ottawa has a launched a new webpage to give residents advice on how to recognize and report problematic properties in their neighbourhoods.

House in Ottawa struck by lightning leaving hole in roof: 'We felt mostly shocked'

The thunderstorm that hit Ottawa Thursday evening was accompanied by heavy rain and lightning that struck a house in Orléans.

Cocaine, Oxy, weapons and cash seized in police raid, 10 arrested in Summerside: P.E.I. RCMP

Ten people were arrested, drugs and cash were seized, after police executed a search warrant at a residence in Summerside, P.E.I.

Naval Museum of Halifax celebrates its 50th year

Inside the gates of Canadian Forces Base Halifax Stadacona sits Admiralty House, a more than 200-year-old building that has served many functions in its lifetime.

Coastguard saves man in distress in Lake Huron

Thanks to the help of first responders, a man was safely pulled from Lake Huron Saturday morning.

'Induction day': Baseball legends at Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys

Russell Martin was taken aback when he walked into the plaque room at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame (CBHOF) for the first time.

Fire crews extricate two people from multivehicle collision

London Fire Department crews attended the scene of a multivehicle collision Saturday morning.

Missing Princeton man found dead, police say it’s not suspicious

The 37-year-old Princeton man reported as missing since last weekend has been found dead.

CTV’s Alexandra Pinto is leaving CTV Kitchener

The anchor for CTV Kitchener’s 6 p.m. show, Alexandra Pinto, has announced she will be leaving the station.

Northern Ontario

Abducted child found dead and sister injured in suspected human trafficking case, authorities say

36-year-old Daniel Callahan was arrested Thursday after a 35-year-old mother was found dead and her two abducted daughters were later discovered in Mississippi – one dead and the other alive – in what investigators say may be a human trafficking case.

'This is my special drink': Hotel bartender charged with sexual assault in downtown Toronto

Toronto police arrested and charged a bartender after a customer was sexually assaulted at a hotel bar in downtown Toronto.

Babies make a racket — for good reason — at infant music classes

Infant music classes are taking off, especially in Newfoundland, where demand is forcing one small business to boom.

Princess Anne to visit Newfoundland for 100th anniversary of National War Memorial

Princess Anne will be in Newfoundland and Labrador next month to mark the 100th anniversary of the unveiling of the National War Memorial in St. John's.

Feuding Labrador Indigenous groups -- one recognized, one not -- celebrate court ruling

A Federal Court judge has dismissed a bid by Labrador's Innu Nation to throw out an agreement involving the NunatuKavut Community Council, but both groups claim the ruling is a win.

Stay Connected

• Where to Find Us
• Submit News Tip
• Advertise With Us
• Newsletters
• News Insiders

Victoria man arrested in U.S. after capsizing yacht and leaving dead fish at ‘Goonies’ house

By Cole Schisler

Posted February 5, 2023 12:45 pm.

Last Updated February 6, 2023 8:25 am.

A Victoria man who was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard after capsizing a stolen yacht at the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon has now been arrested for stealing the yacht, and leaving a dead fish at the Astoria home featured in “The Goonies”.

Before heading stateside, 35-year-old Jericho Labonte was wanted on a B.C. wide warrant for criminal harassment, mischief, and three counts of failure to comply. Now he’s facing charges of theft, endangering another person, unauthorized use of a vehicle and mischief in Oregon.

(1/4) #BreakingNews – Talk about arriving in the nick of time! While conducting a training mission at the mouth of the Columbia River, 2 Coast Guard air crews received a #MAYDAY broadcast from the master of the P/C Sandpiper. After notifying watchstanders at Sector Columbia River pic.twitter.com/CtYSgpdPUG — USCGPacificNorthwest (@USCGPacificNW) February 3, 2023

The U.S. Coast Guard says it rescued Labonte on Friday after the 35-foot vessel he was piloting was capsized by a breaking wave. Labonte was flung from the yacht when it rolled, but was saved by Coast Guard swimmer John “Branch” Walton . The rescue was a first for Walton, who was student of the Advanced Helicopter Rescue School.

“Hours later, he and his classmates graduated from the Advanced Rescue Helicopter School,” the Coast Guard said.

Jericho Labonte was taken into custody at the Seaside Warming Center after stealing a yacht from the Port of Astoria and eventually sinking it. (Courtesy: Astoria 911 Dispatch)

Labonte taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries and later discharged.

That’s when officers from the Astoria Police Department came looking for Labonte, explaining the yacht had been stolen and Labonte was wanted for leaving a dead fish on the porch of “The Goonies” house and filming himself dancing around the property.

Police later found Labonte at a warming shelter in Astoria and took him into custody.

“It’s been a really odd 48 hours,” Astoria police Chief Stacy Kelly said.

At this point, it’s not clear if Labonte will be sent back to Canada to face the charges he’s wanted on in Victoria.

– With files from the Associated Press

Top Stories

The Lower Mainland's homicide team says a man has been charged with murder in relation to the killing of a Surrey woman earlier this month.

The BC Conservation Officer Service says a West Vancouver senior is recovering from minor injuries after being attacked by a bear.

Metro Vancouver Regional District chose a new a chair Friday, with Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley elected to the position.

It is one of the biggest issues facing Vancouver and now it's cost the city its lofty rating when it comes to being one of the most livable cities in the world.

Most Watched Today

Joe Biden and Donald Trump faceoff in the first U.S. presidential debate, sparring over the economy, the border, and golf handicaps. Brandon Choghri reports.

It’s been over two months since the city cleaned up Vancouver’s only legally sanctioned encampment, located in CRAB Park. Residents are adjusting to the designated zone with daily visits from park rangers.

In their inaugural year, the Vancouver Highlanders are set to host five international matches, hoping to draw in more love for the sport.

Ottawa plans to expand eligibility for the federal dental program today to include children under the age of 18 and people who receive a disability tax credit. Up to 1.2 million more people will now be able to apply for the program.

A Vancouver man has created a strategic card game inspired by the city's Stanley Park. Heroes of Stanley Park is a fantasy card game that launched June 25.

Adjust preferences

With your consent we may collect cookies and information to enhance our service, and improve your experience.

These cookies and data are essential for browsing our website and allowing services. Examples include, session, authentication, and security cookies.

These cookies and data enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalized content.

These cookies and data inform us which pages are most informative and engaging via analytics.

These cookies may track data across websites for marketing and interest-based advertising to provide personalized content, offers, and advertisements.

Arrest made in stolen yacht rescue, 'Goonies' fish incident

SEATTLE (AP) — A stolen yacht. A dramatic Coast Guard rescue . A dead fish. And the famed home featured in the classic 1985 film “The Goonies.”

Combined, Oregon police called it a series of “really odd” events along the Pacific Northwest coast spanning 48 hours that concluded Friday night with the arrest of a Canadian man.

Jericho Wolf Labonte, 35, of Victoria, British Columbia, was taken into custody in the northwestern Oregon resort town of Seaside, police said in a news release.

He'd been pulled from the ocean hours earlier by a Coast Guard swimmer, just after the yacht he was piloting capsized amid high waves. He was briefly hospitalized for mild hypothermia.

(1/4) #BreakingNews - Talk about arriving in the nick of time! While conducting a training mission at the mouth of the Columbia River, 2 Coast Guard air crews received a #MAYDAY broadcast from the master of the P/C Sandpiper. After notifying watchstanders at Sector Columbia River pic.twitter.com/CtYSgpdPUG — USCGPacificNorthwest (@USCGPacificNW) February 3, 2023

Labonte was discharged before authorities in nearby Astoria, Oregon, saw the rescue video and said they recognized him as the same person who covered over security cameras at the “Goonies” house and left the fish on the porch.

Police in Seaside, about 17 miles south of Astoria, said they found Labonte on Friday evening at a homeless shelter where he was staying “under an alias,” and arrested him on charges of theft, criminal mischief, endangering another person and unauthorized use of a vehicle.

He's also wanted in Canada for “other cases,” Seaside police said.

It wasn’t immediately clear Sunday whether Labonte had an attorney who could comment on his behalf.

“It’s been a really odd 48 hours,” Astoria Police Chief Stacy Kelly said Friday.

Police had been looking for Labonte since Wednesday, when an acquaintance alerted them to a video Labonte posted on social media of himself leaving a dead fish at the “Goonies” house and dancing around the property, Kelly said. The Victorian home was recently sold to a fan of the film , after being listed for $1.7 million.

Friday afternoon, before Labonte's arrest, the Coast Guard shared stunning video of the rescue by Petty Officer 1st Class Branch Walton, a newly minted rescue swimmer from Greenville, South Carolina.

The 35-foot (11-meter) yacht had been reported stolen by its owner Friday afternoon. As the swimmer approached, a large wave slammed into the vessel, rolling it over and throwing a man, later identified as Labonte, into the water.

The mouth of the Columbia, the largest North American river flowing into the Pacific Ocean, is known as “the graveyard of the Pacific” for its notoriously rough seas.

Man saved by Coast Guard accused of stealing boat, leaving fish at 'Goonies' house

by KATU Staff

ASTORIA, Ore. — U.S. Coast Guard crews rescued a boater in distress just as his boat capsized in the surf near Cape Disappointment on Friday.

According to police in Astoria, that boater, 35-year-old Jericho Labonte, is accused of stealing the boat. He is also suspected of leaving a large dead fish on the porch of the "Goonies" house.

According to the Coast Guard, two aircrews were on a training mission at the mouth of the Columbia River when they got a “mayday” call from a boat that was “floundering in the surf."

A boat crew was also called out from the Coast Guard Station at Cape Disappointment; however, the surf made a boat rescue too dangerous.

USCG officials decided to lower the rescue swimmer, who was on his first rescue, and have Labonte enter the water.

Just as he jumped into the water, the vessel capsized. The rescue swimmer was able to safely get to Labonte, who was flown back to the Astoria Coast Guard Base for a medical evaluation.

He was released around 3:30 p.m., as authorities at that time did not know the boat was stolen.

Police were notified around 4 p.m. that the boat had been stolen from the Astoria Port.

Police found Labonte at a warming shelter in Seaside, where he had used a fake name. They arrested him at around 7:30 p.m.

Officers had been looking for him since Wednesday, when an acquaintance alerted them to a video he had posted on social media of himself leaving the fish at the Goonies house and then dancing around the property, said Astoria Police Chief Stacy Kelly.

Police said Labonte has five outstanding warrants in Victoria, British Columbia. Victoria police are sending officers to Oregon to question him.

The rescue swimmer, Petty Officer 1st Class Branch Walton, of Greenville, South Carolina, only recently graduated from the Coast Guard's rescue swimmer program.

Walton said in an interview Friday that he planned to reach the man, get him in the water and hook him to a cable attached to the helicopter. Instead, the wave hit.

“I kind of got thrown around a little bit by the wave. When I came up I noticed the boat was pretty much in shambles," Walton said.

He directed the helicopter to bring him to Labonte after spotting him in the surf a short distance away. The force of the wave had mostly knocked off his life jacket, Walton said.

The Associated Press contributed.

Man who was saved by Coast Guard during harrowing rescue stole the yacht he was piloting, Astoria police say

• Updated: Jan. 03, 2024, 2:36 p.m. |
• Published: Feb. 03, 2023, 4:38 p.m.

In this photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer reaches a boat right before a giant wave rolled the craft at the mouth of the Columbia River. The newly minted Coast Guard rescue swimmer saved the life of a man who was piloting the yacht. (Turcotte/U.S Coast Guard via AP) AP

• The Associated Press

A newly minted Coast Guard rescue swimmer saved a man’s life Friday at the mouth of the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington state just after a giant wave rolled the yacht he was piloting and threw him into the surf.

In an odd twist to the heroic story, Astoria police said Friday evening that the man who was rescued stole the yacht .

• Police arrest man they say left dead fish at Astoria’s ‘Goonies’ house, stole yacht and prompted harrowing Coast Guard rescue

Video from a Coast Guard helicopter captured part of the dramatic save. Petty Officer Michael Clark says the agency received a mayday call at about 10 a.m., with no additional information.

The agency was able to triangulate roughly where the call was coming from, and Coast Guard crews on vessels and in a helicopter who happened to be training nearby responded. They found the 35-feet yacht, the P/C Sandpiper, taking on water in 20-foot seas — meaning the height of a wave from the previous trough could be as much as 40 feet, Clark said.

The rescue swimmer — who was on his first rescue just after graduating from the Coast Guard’s rescue swimmer program — was lowered from the helicopter by a cable. As he neared the vessel, the man on board climbed onto the stern, preparing to get into the water.

But just then a huge wave slammed the boat, throwing him into the surf. The wave struck so violently that the vessel rolled completely over and wound up floating upright.

The swimmer managed to locate the man in the surf and pulled him to safety aboard the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter. The crew brought him to Coast Guard Base Astoria, where medics treated him for mild hypothermia.

“It’s a bit of a christening for a new rescue swimmer,” Clark said.

The swimmer’s name was not immediately released. Astoria police identified the man who was rescued as Jericho Labonte, 35. He is wanted by Canadian police and, after today’s incident, by Astoria police for allegedly stealing the yacht, said Astoria police chief Stacy Kelly.

The mouth of the Columbia, the largest North American river that flows into the Pacific Ocean, has such notoriously rough seas that it is known as “the graveyard of the Pacific.”

In this photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest, a Coast Guard ship, left, attempts to a rescue a distressed yacht at the mouth of the Columbia River . A newly minted Coast Guard rescue swimmer saved the life of a man who was piloting the yacht. ( Kyle Turcotte/U.S. Coast Guard via AP) AP

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

'I wanted to meet some Pittsburgh Pirates': Man charged in yacht theft

An intoxicated man is accused of stealing an 82-foot yacht from a Strip District marina and piloting it about a half-mile down the Allegheny River Friday morning, Pittsburgh police said.

Michael Fischer, 38, is accused of breaking into the Lock Wall Marina off 23rd Street Friday morning, then boarding and unmooring the yacht, police spokeswoman Emily Bourne said.

“I took the boat,” Fischer told police, according to a criminal complaint in the case. “I wanted to meet some Pittsburgh Pirates.”

Fischer, who did not have an address listed in court records, was unable to turn on the yacht’s power and instead floated the vessel down the Allegheny River, Bourne said. The yacht came to rest just before 8 a.m. along a river wall — about 50 yards from the Pittsburgh River Rescue boathouse.

Authorities were dispatched to the banks of the Allegheny River at 7:53 a.m., the complaint said. They found Fischer walking on the top deck of the boat.

River rescue boarded the yacht and detained the man, who smelled like alcohol, the complaint said. Pittsburgh EMS medically cleared him. He was charged with theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and defiant trespassing.

The owner of the yacht arrived on scene and confirmed Fischer had no authority to take the boat, the complaint said.

The marina from which Fischer allegedly stole the yacht does not have fencing around it, the marina’s owner told police. When he opened for the day, he noticed that a boat was gone.

Fischer was unable to post $5,000 bail and taken to Allegheny County Jail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 1.

No boats or other objects on the Allegheny River were reported as damaged Friday morning.

Justin Vellucci is a TribLive reporter covering crime and public safety in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. A longtime freelance journalist and former reporter for the Asbury Park (N.J.) Press, he worked as a general assignment reporter at the Trib from 2006 to 2009 and returned in 2022. He can be reached at [email protected] .

Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.

Get Ad-Free >

Sign Up for Notifications

Stay up-to-date on important news from TribLIVE

TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox.

News Spotlight

• How to Select the Best Commercial Cleaning Service for Your Business BergTown Family Cleaning Partner News
• How to Watch Yankees vs. Blue Jays on TV or Streaming Live - Friday, June 28 TribLive
• How to Achieve Flaky, Buttery Croissants at Home Naked The Breadery Partner News
• Trump and Biden mix it up over policy and each other in a debate that turns deeply personal AP
• Mike Siani vs. Reds Preview, Player Prop Bets - June 28 TribLive
• Pete Alonso vs. Astros Preview, Player Prop Bets - June 28 TribLive
• Top 4 Tips for Selecting the Perfect Frame for Your Portraits In The Frame Partner News
• Jackson Merrill vs. Red Sox Preview, Player Prop Bets - June 28 TribLive
• How to Choose the Right Arborist for Your Tree Care Needs BeaverJack Tree Service, LLC Partner News
• 4 Ways Credit Unions Support Your Financial Goals New Alliance Federal Credit Union Partner News

Def Leppard, Hozier, Chris Stapleton highlight July's top Pittsburgh concerts

Drunk guy steals yacht on Allegheny River to ‘meet some Pittsburgh Pirates’ and throws epic party

Ryan conway.

• June 26, 2024

According to Pittsburgh Police, an intoxicated man allegedly stole a yacht on the Allegheny River. According to the report, this guy boarded the yacht with some friends and threw what appeared to be an epic party. Keep reading for the details.

My man must have seen this picture of Paul Skenes and Livvy Dunne soaking up the sun on the Allegheny River and tried to go say what’s up:

Paul Skenes is winning at life. pic.twitter.com/c1j3qFASem — Baseball’s Greatest Moments (@BBGreatMoments) June 24, 2024

The full story from Pittsburgh’s Channel 11 is honestly nuts:

“Oh my gosh, every single thing was torn out. The cabinets and everything. We were crunching on potato chips and cheese puffs. It was like a giant party had gone on. The liquor cabinet was empty the liquor was everywhere. Bottles everywhere,” Michael Jennison told Channel 11.

Jennison believes multiple people were onboard his boat.

“Somehow they got onto the boat. They must have tried to start the engines because they have my diesel engine book opened on the bed, like trying to figure out how to start the engines,” he said.

Fischer apparently couldn’t figure it out. So, police say he untied the yacht, and let it drift a mile down the Allegheny River until it crashed into the river wall and nearly hit the River Rescue building.

“Thank God nobody got hurt. No damage was done. It went underneath four bridges, so thank goodness no damage was done over there. No lives were taken,” the boat captain, Adam Kernohan told Channel 11.

When police went onto the yacht, officers found Fischer relaxing in a chair.

“He was sitting right there. Laying back. Passed out, pistachio nuts everywhere, a bottle of rum mostly all drunk, just a little left in the bottom,” Jennison added.

When placed into custody, the man told officers, “I took the boat. I wanted to meet some Pittsburgh Pirates.”

Well, he himself has, in a way, become a Pittsburgh Pirate, so while he didn’t get to meet any of the players, he just has to look in the mirror.

I guess we can discard the “allegedly” since he confessed on the spot. Not like he would have gotten away with it anyway, considering they found him passed out on the boat covered in booze and pistachios.

Honestly? That sounds like the dream. Drifting down the river, wind in my hair, three sheets to wind with some good friends and some Wonderful Pistachios.

The only thing that would make it complete is a baker’s dozen of Two Robbers in the cooler.

Wheat vodka. Real fruit from real farms. Philly born and bred. Forget about it.

Gear up in the TLL Shop

Share this:

Very real and legitimate journalist. I don't see a loss on the schedule.

Related Posts

WATCH: Los Angeles Dodgers Bat Boy saves Shohei Ohtani from disaster, sets himself up for a massive payday

WATCH: Orioles fan makes Foul Ball Catch of the Year contender at Camden Yards

America vs Everybody: Team USA to bring AC Units to Paris after ‘environmental plan’ to keep temps at 75-80 degrees in Olympic Village is exposed for being nothing but virtue signaling nonsense

This post has 0 comments, leave a reply cancel reply, discover more from the liberty line.

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

Man who reportedly stole yacht identified, charged

Police have identified and charged the intoxicated man who allegedly stole a yacht from the Allegheny River last week.

Authorities say 38-year-old Michael Fischer broke into the Lock Wall Marina off 23rd Street in the Strip early Friday morning.

They say Fischer boarded and unmoored an 82-foot yacht, and then floated downriver to where the boat came to rest along the river wall.

The man faces charges of theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and defiant trespassing.

Fischer told police the reason he took the boat was because he simply wanted to meet some Pittsburgh Pirates.

Drunken man stole yacht because he ‘wanted to meet some Pittsburgh Pirates’: cops

• Updated: Jun. 25, 2024, 10:57 a.m. |
• Published: Jun. 25, 2024, 10:36 a.m.

No one was hurt. (photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen via Unsplash) Vidar Nordli-Mathisen

• Claudia Dimuro | [email protected]

Yeah, sure, that’s a sound idea that totally makes sense…

…If you’re blasted out of your mind, which this guy undoubtedly was.

More Life & Culture news

• Kenny Chesney posts emotional, ‘very hard goodbye’ to friend
• ‘She’s A Lady’ singer Tom Jones will be in Pa. this fall: Where to buy tickets
• Reality TV star dies at 33 after battling cancer

The Tribune Review reports how a man became fantastically drunk in Pittsburgh, Pa., last week and somehow made the decision to steal a yacht. Which he did.

The man in question, Michael Fischer, managed to break into the Lock Wall Marina off 23rd Street on Friday morning and then proceeded to board and set sail on an 82-foot-yacht, states the same Tribune Review article.

Why? Because, according to the resulting (and inevitable) criminal complaint, as well as in the words of Fischer himself, he “wanted to meet some Pittsburgh Pirates.”

Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 continues to report how Fischer’s fabulously flawed plan didn’t take too long to unravel: For all that he managed to do in stealing the yacht, he couldn’t figure out how to turn it on. He didn’t even make it over half a mile before the unmoored craft gently came to a stop against a river wall about 50 yards from the Pittsburgh River Rescue Boathouse.

The yacht’s captain — who usually sleeps on it — wasn’t on the ship at the time, states Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. Authorities eventually showed up to detain Fischer — who the complaint states reeked of alcohol — after the marina manager informed the captain the yacht had gone missing.

“He called the police. We called the police,” tells Capt. Adam Kernohan to the news station. “But then the weird part is, it ended up just floating right next to the River Rescue.

“So the River Rescue, I guess two medics, went out there and looked at the boat and said, ‘Why is it backing up into here?’ And then I got a call on the radio about a boat stolen. So they just walked on, and arrested on person.”

The Tribune-Review confirms that Fischer was unable to post $5,000 bail and was taken to Allegheny County jail. He has a preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 1.

No boats or anything else on the Allegheny River were, miraculously, reported as damaged from his shenannigans.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

• Back to School
• Decision 2024
• Pittsburgh Gets Real
• Clark Howard (Opens in new window)
• Weather App
• Interactive Radar
• Hour by Hour
• 7 Day Forecast
• Changing Climate
• WPXI 24/7 News
• WPXI Weather 24/7
• The $pend $mart Stream
• Law & Crime
• Curiosity NOW
• 11 Investigates
• The Final Word
• 11 on the Ice
• Jerome Bettis Show
• Steals and Deals
• Home Experts
• Care Connect
• Breaking the Stigma
• Advertise With WPXI
• Live Traffic Updates
• What's on WPXI
• Lottery Results
• In The Know Pittsburgh
• Laff (Opens in new window)
• ME-TV (Opens in new window)
• Share Your Pics!
• Closed Captioning
• Internships
• Jobs at WPXI (Opens in new window)
• Our Region's Business
• UPMC: Community Matters
• UPMC: Minutes Matter
• Chiller Theater
• Visitor Agreement
• Privacy Policy

PHOTOS: Severe storms cause damage throughout western Pennsylvania

Storm damage Strong storms Wednesday evening brought down trees and power lines.

Latest Photo Galleries

PHOTOS: Fire at Westinghouse Castle in Wilmerding

PHOTOS: Boat used to rescue deer from Highland Park Reservoir

PHOTOS: This Adams Township home is for sale for over $2.2M

PHOTOS: Humane Action Pittsburgh breaks ground on pollinator garden in Sharpsburg

PHOTOS: Renderings of new Tree of Life building

PHOTOS: Pittsburgh community gathers to break ground on new Tree of Life Synagogue project

PHOTOS: Highmark hosts 2024 Walk for Health Community in Pittsburgh

PHOTOS: Kids given bikes, helmets during event in Lawrence County

PHOTOS: Intoxicated man steals yacht on Allegheny River, police say

Latest Trending