Man in Charlotte County accused of abandoning derelict sailboat, burglary

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. —

A man in Charlotte County is accused of abandoning a derelict sailboat and breaking into a residence, the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office says.

According to an arrest report, deputies first noticed a sailboat washed up near the Peace River that belonged to Artem Korzhuk, 34, on Jan. 25. Deputies say they told Korzhuck repeatedly to remove the boat. he was issued a citation.

CCSO says that they made contact with Korzhuck, who had until Saturday to remove the vessel, refloat it, and bring it back to compliance. They add that by Saturday, the boat was still there and could not be moved.

Korzhuk had reportedly attached a cinderblock to the boat to act as an anchor, which would not be appropriate considering its size and weather conditions, deputies say. Deputies say with this Korzhuk neglected the care of his vessel and allowed it to become derelict.

Korzhuck was arrested and charged with abandoning a derelict vessel.

Concurrently, CCSO deputies responded to a residence in Englewood on Friday in reference to a potential burglary Korzhuck is also accused of. They say that the victim received a call from a neighbor that there was a person smoking on their balcony.

The victim told CCSO that they arrived to their unoccupied residence under renovation and noticed the front door open. They said they also noticed items inside that did not belong to them.

The same person seen smoking on the balcony, CCSO says, was again seen near the property, this time with a metal sand sifter.

When the victim's realtor approached the suspect, they say he walked away, leaving shoes, some food, towels and the metal sand sifter.

When deputies responded, they say they noticed some clothes, a bicycle, gas cans, shoes and documents that do not belong to the victim. The documents had Korzhuk's name written on them, CCSO says.

Surveillance footage reportedly shows Korzhuk in a truck backing into the driveway of the victim's residence. CCSO says that recent photos positively identified the person entering the home to be Korzhuk.

Korzhuk was charged with burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and petit theft, as the metal sand shifter that he was reportedly carrying belongs to the victim.

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