Iguana Hunt Goes Off the Rails After Man Allegedly Throws City Pavers at Boaters

by Ryan Yousefi September 3, 2026

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Carl John J. Montanari. {BSO}

A man faces charges after police say he smashed city pavers and hurled the pieces at iguana hunters traveling along the C-14 Canal.

According to a Margate Police Department arrest report, Carl John J. Montanari, 48, of Coral Springs, surrendered to police on August 27. He was booked on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, petit theft, and criminal mischief under $200.

According to a probable cause affidavit, the incident happened August 7 near Margate’s Veterans Memorial Park, 7044 Northwest 1st Court.

Police said one of the victims was visiting from Saint Martin and had booked an iguana-hunting boat trip with the second victim, who was operating the boat. The pair departed from a marina in Coral Springs and traveled east along the C-14 Canal.

After one of the men shot an iguana on the canal bank with a pellet gun, he stepped off the boat to retrieve it. Investigators said Montanari then ran toward the men and began screaming at them from his backyard.

The boaters continued east in an effort to avoid a confrontation, according to the affidavit.

Minutes later, surveillance cameras allegedly captured Montanari driving into Veterans Memorial Park in a Chevy Avalanche. Police said he quickly drove through the park, exited onto Rock Island Road, and later returned as the boat traveled beneath the C-14 Rock Island bridge.

Montanari allegedly exited his truck and ran toward the canal bank while pointing and cursing at the men.

Investigators said he then walked back toward his truck and appeared to search through the truck bed for an object. According to the affidavit, he returned toward the victims and yelled, “You’re lucky I don’t have it,” which one of the men believed was a reference to a gun.

Police said Montanari then removed two brick pavers belonging to the City of Margate from a walkway near a gazebo and smashed them against the concrete, breaking them into four pieces.

He allegedly threw the broken pavers toward the men on the boat, with the pieces landing close enough that the boat operator told investigators one of the victims would have been struck had he not made an evasive maneuver.

Investigators said surveillance video also showed the bricks splashing into the canal within feet of the victims.

Montanari left the park shortly after the confrontation, police said. Investigators later used surveillance cameras and vehicle information to track a black Chevy Avalanche connected to his Coral Springs residence.

Montanari surrendered to Margate police on August 27. He was transported to the Broward County Main Jail and later released after posting a $10,500 bond.

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Ryan Yousefi

Ryan Yousefi has lived in Coral Springs for over 30 years. He has worked as a writer for multiples outlets over the years, including the Miami New Times where he has covered sports and culture since 2013. He holds a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Business Healthcare Management from Western Governors University.