The 27-year-old man accused of driving a vehicle on Clearwater Beach and broadcasting the stunt live on social media is facing a slew of charges.

  • Clearwater Beach Facebook Live driver facing a string of charges
  • Ryan Michael Stiles arrested after driving across Clearwater Beach
  • He broadcast the wild beach chase live on Facebook Live
  • Stiles to appear in court Friday

Ryan Michael Stiles was arrested after police say he drove across Clearwater Beach and down to Caladesi Island before he was stopped Thursday afternoon. 

There were no injuries as Stiles drove an SUV across the beach, running over beach chairs while drinking from a whiskey bottle and ranting on Facebook Live. 

Stiles has been charged with DUI, driving with a suspended license, reckless driving, fleeing and eluding, hit and run with property damage, felony criminal mischief and threatening a public servant.

Additional charges may be forthcoming from other agencies for the jaunt onto Caladesi Island. Stiles is scheduled to make a first appearance in court Friday.

Clearwater Police Deputy Chief Donald Hall said at about 4:26 p.m., the agency started receiving calls about a Facebook Live broadcast from a driver on the beach who possibly wanted to take out a police cruiser or police building. 

Stiles's evasive driving in order to avoid beach traffic took him onto the beach itself and eventually to Caladesi Island, where officers eventually took him into custody, they said. After his vehicle stopped, Stiles did not fight officers.

Stiles's profanity-laced Facebook Live broadcast lasted more than four minutes.