MOSS LANDING — The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Thursday announced the arrest of 29-year-old Joshua Timothy Holtzclaw for voluntary manslaughter after an Aptos fisherman was found dead following a physical confrontation between the two Wednesday at Moss Landing Harbor.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said it was notified, along with California State Parks, shortly before 9 a.m. Wednesday of an incident in which two boats collided. According to a press release, witnesses reported seeing one boat operator climbing onto the other’s boat, and Holtzclaw got into a physical confrontation with 26-year-old Trenten Paul Black of Aptos.
One subject was reported to have fallen into the water while the other assaulted him with a stick. Witnesses reported Holtzclaw had exited the water with his boat, while Black had not been seeing exiting the water and could no longer be seen.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team, with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard and a sonar device, were able to locate and recover Black’s body from the harbor at about 1:20 p.m. A forensic examination will take place to determine Black’s cause of death.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said that through the statements obtained, it was determined that a collision had occurred between boats being piloted by Holtzclaw and Black. Black boarded Holtzclaw’s boat and a physical altercation ensued. Black fell into the water. Witnesses stated it appeared Holtzclaw began striking Black with a stick. Black remained in the water and Holtzclaw left the area. A passing vessel attempted to rescue Black by tossing a life preserver, but the effort was unsuccessful.
Holtzclaw has been booked into the Monterey County Jail for one count of voluntary manslaughter, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, and bail has been set at $200,000.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office asks that anyone with information related to this investigation to contact Detective Josue Ramirez at 831-253-6068. You can remain anonymous when providing information.
