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DUI Suspect Left Trail Of Mayhem, Say Pinellas Park Police

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 22, 2008

Clyde Canup

A man charged with driving under the influence Saturday night left a path of damage through a neighborhood while trying to escape from police after nearly hitting a patrol car.

Pinellas Park Police say things started when Clyde Allen Canup was driving on the wrong side of the road toward a squad car on 82nd Avenue North, about 7:20 p.m. Saturday, forcing the officer to veer off the road.

The driver was slumped over the steering wheel, police said. The officer turned around and started chasing the truck.

Before the chase ended with the truck hitting a light post and tree, Canup, 39, of Largo, mowed down a stop sign, drove into a yard and hit a portable basketball hoop. He wasn't done.

Dragging the basketball hoop, Canup's truck hit a parked car, plowed into a yard and hit a garage, police said. While backing out of the yard, he knocked down a mailbox, police said.

Most of the mayhem occurred when the truck turned south of 67th Street into a residential neighborhood near 80th Avenue.

The officer broke off the chase and alerted dispatchers when Canup sped through the neighborhood, police said.

Officers found Canup's 1998 GMC pickup when it hit the light pole and tree at 7975 Belcher Road, the police department reported. Witnesses said the truck hit the raised median and lost control before hitting the light and tree.

Canup was taken to a hospital to treat cuts on his face and other injuries, police said. He refused to allow blood to be drawn, but police said he showed "obvious signs of impairment".

He has been charged with driving under the influence, refusing to allow a blood sample and fleeing and attempting to elude police.

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