Edhat Staff
FBI agent seized documents and evidence after serving a search warrant of Truth Aquatics (Photo: John Palminteri)
By edhat staff
As part of their investigation, federal agents served search warrants Sunday to Truth Aquatics, the operator of the Conception boat that caught fire where 34 people lost their lives.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Coast Guard searched the office’s headquarters at Sea Landing. Agents were seen transporting covered carts of evidence and documents from the scene. They also searched the two other vessels owned by Truth Aquatics, Vision and Truth.
Conception, a 75-foot diving boat, caught fire off the coast of Santa Cruz Island on Labor Day and killed 34 passengers that were presumed to be sleeping below the boat. Five crew members in a different area of the boat were able to survive.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff Lt. Eric Raney stated this is part of an ongoing investigation.
The Los Angeles Times reports federal agents were seeking training, safety, and maintenance records.
Salvage and recovery efforts were suspended Friday due to high winds and currents causing safety concerns. Dive teams have recovered 33 of the 34 bodies as the search continues.
Sorry. The Inside Edition You Tube video titled “Was a Charging Cell Phone to Blame for California Boat Fire” discusses how charging cell phones are a known hazard throughout the boating industry, and many boat operators do not allow batteries to be charged inside the boat. The YouTube video showing federal agents examining the BBQ grill on Vision as part of a search warrant is a CBS Los Angeles video titled ” Search Warrant Issued in Santa Barbara Boat Fire”. The agents are seen examining the BBQ grill @ 1:12. As can be seen in the video, the grill is only 3 feet from the galley door, which is the only exit out of the galley/salon and below deck sleeping areas.
Google is a good search tool. Try it.
The L.A Times has the story- it is now a criminal investigation.
SBSBS…etc – Good, then provide a source for the claim. Don’t be lazy. If someone makes a claim, especially such as this, providing a source is the adult thing to do.
LA Times has the details on the launch of the “criminal investigation”.
The feds didn’t announce anything. Sources – sources that are unauthorized to speak on the investigation claimed this………
MRTRUMP – No. You are wrong. THIS is what the LA times said: “authorities had not concluded that a crime had occurred but were actively trying to determine whether one had.” ———- In other words, it is NOT a criminal investigation. They are trying to determine if a crime took place, they are NOT investigating a crime. That comes AFTER they’ve determined there’s a crime to investigate. Ugh…. you people!
TAGDES – as much as you love to sound like you know everything. You’re dead wrong. It is NOT yet a criminal investigation. See my response to MRTRUMP.
67. Asking someone to provide a source for you in the comments section of edhat is lazy.
SB – no, it’s not lazy, it’s asking them to do their job as a grown up. Is your boss lazy when he/she asks you to get to work? Nah……. show your work. Even kids know that.
Do you think TAGDES sounds like he knows everything? I never thought that about him myself….This is all part of an investigation 34 people died and everyone wants to know how?
Thank you Roger….and I only post from what I hear that are known reputable sources. As of 10:03 am today from the Associated Press, KTLA and the LA Times; 2 law enforcement sources have stated that the US Coast Guard Criminal Investigative Group led by the US Attorney’s Office in LA has launched a criminal probe into possible safety regulation violations. Of the reporters on this story, one is a 2 time Pulitzer prize winner and another is also an awarded reporter. There is a very telling comment from the Coast Guard crew interview that likely had bearing on this for anyone interested enough to use their own search engine.
TAGDES – sources? Again, quit being lazy and support your assertions.
@SBSB…normally, sure, but when a person is bringing shocking new information to the proverbial Edhat table, a source would be nice.
It’s there, try reading before commenting.
Tagdes – try this: copy and past URL to specific articles. It’s easy. You can do ctrl+c and ctrl+v – let me know if you need help with that.
Heck I was even able to provide a link to the LA times article as a REBUTTAL to your claim.
SB – What’s lazy is not stating your source in the first place. It further erodes your creditability.
can’t find any past URLs…should I try archives
It was explained days ago that the “galley door” was NOT the only escape for passengers.
Does anyone know if these were “administrative” search warrants?
In addition to the above information, FBI, ATF and Coast Guard agents were seen closely examining the BBQ grill on Vision. That grill, which is electric, is located just 3 feet from the galley exit door, located on the aft part of the galley. On Conception, the galley door was the only exit out of the galley/salon area, and was the only exit available to passengers to escape the burning galley/salon and sleeping bunk area. The video showing the agents examining to BBQ grill is on YouTube. it is an Inside Edition story titled “Was a Charging Cell Phone to Blame for California Boat Fire”.
The Feds have announced that it’s now officially a criminal investigation due to possible safety regulation violations.
Tagdes – source?
Where did federal law enforcement announce a criminal investigation? This could be an administrative search warrant which does not require probable cause.
No, it’s common practice and is done by most reputable posters who strive to make a point. Given that, from past experience, tagdes has good information.
It’s not that hard to figure this out. A night watchmen was required by law to be onboard becuase it was an overnight dive boat. The boat did not have any employees awake at that time. That’s pretty cut and dry as to why their would be a criminal investigation. So the investigators are probably looking for time sheet records of past employees. I bet their is other violations too. Just my 2 cents. Let’s wait and see now.
From the sound of it, our very own MRTRUMP should be in charge of this investigation. Like his namesake, I am sure he is the greatest fire investigator in history. Also, I am positive he would have been able to put out the fire and save all those people if he had been on the boat.B ecause he is also the greatest hero, swimmer and firefighter in history… Said by him, probably.
Regarding the charging of electronic devices on a boat, what is the source of electricity on a boat? Does a generator run continuously to provide electricity or does the boat have a large storage battery to supply outlets?
Good god people! Most of the comments here are bickering between a few people. Geez, sometimes one can learn something from the comments section, but not this one.
4:24 pm – try this: find some 4th grader and ask them how to spell “paste”, since you obviously don’t know how to use a search engine. It’s easy. Let me know if you need help with that.