Father accused of throwing son overboard in Newport Harbor

A man is accused of throwing his 7-year-old son overboard after a fight on a cruise in Newport Harbor.

Witnesses said they saw Sloane Briles, 35, hit his son then toss the child in the water. People on three boats in the area rushed to save the boy, pulling him to safety, according to Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Jim Amormino. The boy was shaken up, but otherwise OK, Amormino said.

Briles also jumped in the water to save his son, but the boy had already been rescued.

Amormino says the incident began just before 2 p.m. Sunday when Briles and his girlfriend got into a verbal altercation aboard the boat. His two sons from a previous marriage, a 7-year-old and 6-year-old, were with him. Both boys apparently witnessed the argument and the 7-year-old was visibly upset, Amormino said.

Witnesses say the boy was walking behind his father when Briles just picked him up and tossed him into the water.

Sheriff’s deputies were called in to take Briles into custody. When they arrived he was combative and resisted arrest, Amormino said. Deputies believe he had been drinking.

Briles was booked on suspicion of child endangerment and resisting arrest. He was released Monday morning after posting bail.

— KTLA