A Clearwater police officer fired shots at suspect late Sunday as a driver drove recklessly along the beach and drove away.
- Clearwater police fire shots at person they say was driving recklessly
- No injuries
- Suspect, 23-year-old Chris Chittarath, in custody
No officers were injured.
According to police, the incident began just after 11 p.m. with a report of a vehicle being driven recklessly on South Gulfview Boulevard in Clearwater Beach.
An officer responding to the scene noticed a 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer pull into the parking lot of Shephard's Beach Resort and attempted to make contact with the driver, later identified as 23-year-old Chris Chittarath.
Authorities said the Mitsubishi then went into the parking lot of the neighboring Holiday Inn, driving over a curb and bushes along the way. Then, according to police, the vehicle came directly at an officer.
The officer then fired shots at the vehicle and Chittarath.
Chittarath turned back onto the street and drove away from the scene and over the Sand Key Bridge, officials said. He was stopped moments later in Belleair.
No injuries were reported.
Chittarath is facing charges of on charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer with a motor vehicle, fleeing and eluding, resisting arrest without violence and driving with a suspended license.
He has multiple arrests in Pinellas County before on driving-related charges.