This Captain Apparently Wanted to Go Down with the Ship

Shortly before Irene struck, personnel at Port Milford told a boat owner to leave his vessel because the storm was coming.

The owner, identified as David Zaccaria, 45, of 58 Vought Place in Stratford, refused -- sparking a fight that ended in his arrest, police said.

Police received a report of a disturbance at the port located at 164 Rogers Ave. and when they arrived about 5:30 p.m. Saturday, less than 12 hours before Hurricane Irene ravaged Milford.

An investigation revealed that Zaccaria was advised by a representative of the marina that it was unsafe to stay on his board and he would have to leave the property due to the violent storm's impending arrival, police said.

"Zaccaria refused to leave the property and pushed the marina representative to the ground, nearly knocking him into the water," police said.

"Zaccaria allegedly poured gasoline onto the boat dock and threatened to light the dock on fire with a flare gun, which was in his waistband," police added.

Environmental officials were notified of the gas poured into the water, according to police.

Zaccaria was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, first-degree breach of peace and first-degree threatening, and discharging a substance into a harbor without a permit, police said.

He was being held in lieu of $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 13, police said.