FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Broward prosecutors dropped charges against a central Florida man who had been accused of boating under the influence.
John Friedrich Higgins, 45, of Longwood, was arrested in May 2024 in connection with a crash off Hillsboro Inlet on Aug. 5, 2023.
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Multiple people were injured in the crash.
Higgins had faced two felony and three misdemeanor charges.
According to records obtained by Local 10 News, Higgins’ attorney raised a “myriad of evidence and proof problems” with the law enforcement investigation of the case.
Higgins’ attorney said he had witness testimony that his client was not operating the boat at the time and that investigators failed to collect exculpatory evidence. His attorney also said physical evidence showed Higgins was not operating the boat at the time.
According to a closeout memo from the Broward State Attorney’s Office, prosecutors said they concluded after a review of evidence provided by Higgins’ attorney that they could “no longer prove (Higgins) was operating the vessel when the crash occurred,” leading them to drop the case.