Florida Man Arrested For Flushing Woman's Fish Down Toilet

Bret Austin Dahl. Credit: Lee County Sheriff's Office

CAPE CORAL, Florida - A Florida man is facing several charges stemming from two separate investigations, including one where he allegedly flushed a woman's fish down the toilet.

On February 7th, 2024, at around 6:04 PM, officers with the Cape Coral Police Department were called to a disturbance in the 1500 block of Del Prado Boulevard South, Cape Coral, Florida.

The victim told police that she was in a verbal argument with a man later identified as Bret Austin Dahl, 29.

She said that Dahl exited his vehicle and aggressively approached her vehicle. As the victim tried to call police, Dahl allegedly put his arm inside her driver-side window and smacked the phone out of her hand, hit her in her left arm, and spit on the back driver-side window.

The victim took pictures of the vehicle and license plate. The victim said she did not know the suspect.

Based on the investigation, Detectives identified Dahl as a suspect. 

Dahl was already in custody at the Lee County Jail on unrelated charges from an incident that occurred on Saturday, May 4th, 2024. That day, officers were dispatched to a home in southwest Cape Coral for a battery call. 

Police say that Dahl shoved the victim, and during the commission of the battery, stole the victim’s iPhone 15 and caused an estimated $3,370 in property damage. 

Police say that the Florida man also shattered the victim’s fish tank, then flushed her beta fish down the toilet.

Bret Austin Dahl is now facing the following charges (between both cases):

--1 count in violation of F.S.S. 784.03(1)(a)(1) – Battery (for May 4th incident)

--1 count in violation of F.S.S. 812.014 (e) – Grand Theft (for May 4th incident)

--1 count in violation of F.S.S. 806.13(1)(a – Criminal Mischief (for May 4th incident)

--1 count in violation of F.S.S. 914.22(1)(e) –Tampering with a Victim (for May 4th incident)

--1 count in violation of F.S.S. 828.12(1)(a) – Animal Cruelty (for May 4th incident)

--1 count in violation of F.S.S. 812.02 (2)(A) – Burglary with Battery or Assault (for February 7th incident)