Friday in Florida, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office detained a boat commander and 14 migrants after their vessel was rammed, damaging two engines.
Bazaelius Francois, 30, is now charged with two counts of Aggravated Battery on a Police Officer due to an incident that occurred near the Jupiter Inlet in Palm Beach County at approximately 9:00 a.m. today.
The migrants will be turned over to the United States Border Patrol, according to the sheriff’s office.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said, “A PBSO Marine Unit deputy apprehended a vessel east of the Jupiter Inlet shortly after 9:00 a.m. After establishing contact with the Captain onboard, the Captain rammed the PBSO Marine Unit Vessel, causing damage to two engines.
Following pursuit by a sheriff’s office helicopter and additional marine units, the “boat captain beached the vessel just north of the Juno pier and was immediately apprehended by responding road patrol deputies and Jupiter police officers.”
The investigation is ongoing, and no injuries have been reported.
The migrants’ nationalities were not readily discernible.