USCG Seizes Suspicious Vessel Near Golden Gate Bridge

The U.S. Coast Guard took an uncooperative sailor into custody after leading a chase near the Golden Gate Bridge, NBC reported

The Sailboat captain, who NBC identified as David John McCormick, was arrested Sunday evening after allegedly refusing to allow USCG aboard his vessel and assaulting a Coast Guard Officer. No injuries were reported.

McCormick’s vessel, a 30-foot sailboat, drew suspicion near Sausalito because it had no flag or identification on the hull.

USCG requested to board the boat, and the captain refused permission to board. McCormick declared that he had weapons and a USCG attempt to board the boat would stir violence.

When the Coast Guard requested a backup patrol boat, McCormick cut the mooring line and headed out to sea, tailed by USCG patrol boat Sockeye and a 47-foot motor lifeboat, NBC reported, and the alleged assault occurred when the Coast Guard boarded the boat about 2.5 miles southwest of the Golden Gate Bridge.

McCormick was taken into custody and his sailboat was towed to Sausalito. According to NBC, McCormick has passports from New Zealand and Ireland, and he had bought his 45-foot sailboat in Alameda and it was berthed in Berkeley.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in San Francisco is expected to decide this afternoon what charges McCormick will face.

Source: NBC, USCG, Staff