Fishing Boat Captain Arrested After Threatening To Kill Crewmembers

The captain of the fishing vessel Southern Horizon was arrested at the Newport Docks last week after authorities alleged he operated the vessel recklessly, threatened crew members and showed signs of possible impairment.

According to a probable cause statement filed in Lincoln County Circuit Court, 36-year-old Anthony Forrest Lee Green was arrested at approximately 9:56 p.m. on August 13 after the U.S. Coast Guard brought the vessel Southern Horizon into port.

Oregon State Police trooper Munsee was called to assist the Coast Guard after authorities learned Green had an outstanding warrant and was suspected of being impaired.

According to the trooper's statement, Green was the captain of the Southern Horizon. While waiting for the vessel to dock, the trooper reported seeing the vessel moving back and forth and appearing to have difficulty docking.

The trooper also reported hearing Green yelling at members of his crew over the vessel's intercom and allegedly making statements that he would kill them. After the vessel docked, the trooper described Green as behaving erratically and yelling. Green was taken into custody after authorities confirmed his outstanding warrant.

During contact Green allegedly had difficulty following instructions from both the trooper and Coast Guard personnel. Trooper Munsee described his behavior as shifting between periods of calm, inappropriate laughter and angry outbursts.

Green denied consuming drugs or medications.

Investigators later interviewed four members of the Southern Horizon crew. According to the court documents, crew members told investigators Green's behavior that evening was not normal for him.

One crew member also alleged that Green had intentionally steered toward another vessel earlier that day because Green believed the other vessel was stealing fish from him. The crew member reportedly showed the trooper video from several days earlier that allegedly depicted Green intentionally steering toward another vessel.

All four crew members told investigators they felt threatened or unsafe around Green, according to the court document. They alleged Green had made statements about hurting or killing them and said they were concerned he could follow through on the threats.

The trooper reported that Green was not asked to perform field sobriety tests because of his difficulty following directions.

Green was transported to the Lincoln County Jail while the trooper sought a search warrant. Lincoln County Circuit Court Judge Amanda Benjamin approved the warrant at approximately 11:45 p.m. Shortly after midnight on August 14, two vials of Green's blood were collected and packaged as evidence for testing for possible impairing substances, according to the probable cause statement.

Green was arrested on allegations of reckless boating, boating under the influence, four counts of reckless endangering and four counts of menacing, along with the warrant. The allegations contained in the probable cause statement have not been proven in court. Green is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.