‘Deadliest Catch’ Star Erik James Is Arrested

Erik James Brown, a familiar face on the Discovery Channel’s hit series “Deadliest Catch,” finds himself entangled with the law once more. The 40-year-old, known for his daring exploits on the high seas, was arrested in the Florida Keys on Saturday due to alleged probation violations, marking another chapter in his series of legal battles.

Erik James, as he’s popularly known, was taken into custody in the Stock Island section of the Keys, with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department confirming the arrest. While the specifics of the probation violations remain undisclosed, the incident adds to Brown’s controversial history.

His tenure on “Deadliest Catch” saw him working aboard the “Summer Bay” deep-sea vessel under the watchful eye of Captain “Wild” Bill Wichrowski, showcasing the perilous life of Alaskan crab fishermen competing on the icy waters.

This is not Brown’s first encounter with the law. In 2018, he faced charges for running an illegal marijuana growing operation from his Florida residence, valued at nearly $2 million. Further complicating his legal woes, Brown was arrested in 2020, facing charges of domestic assault, battery, evidence tampering, and marijuana-related offenses.

According to reports from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Brown was arrested on two counts of probation violation, with his arraignment hearing scheduled for April 1st at 9:00 a.m.

Despite these setbacks, Brown has been a part of the “Deadliest Catch” narrative, featured in three episodes of the long-standing series that delves into the lives of blue-collar workers braving the Alaskan crab fishing industry.

The show follows the lives of crab fishermen aboard fishing vessels in the Bering Sea during the Alaskan king crab and snow crab fishing seasons. It showcases the dangerous conditions and extreme weather the crews face, highlighting the risks involved in one of the deadliest professions. Erik James, like other crew members featured on the show, is known for his work in this high-risk, high-reward industry, contributing to the drama and excitement that draw viewers to the series