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Trooper Hung Onto Driver's Pickup

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By VALERIE KALFRIN and JOSH POLTILOVE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 5, 2008

  Anthony Cook

TAMPA - A Florida Highway Patrol trooper clung to the running board of a pickup for about 600 feet on southbound Interstate 75 Thursday morning to avoid being run over.

Trooper Anthony Horne was not injured in the incident at 3:43 a.m. Anthony Craig Cook, 35, of Riverview, was charged with felony attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, the highway patrol said.

According to the highway patrol, Horne pulled over Cook's white 1989 Ford pickup on the outside shoulder of the interstate near Gibsonton Drive after the truck failed to move over for an emergency vehicle.

Cook said he didn't have a driver's license with him, a criminal arrest affidavit states. The trooper got Cook's Social Security number to run a check on him and learned Cook's license had been suspended.

Horne returned to Cook's pickup and told him to step out.

That's when Cook put the truck in gear and turned hard to the left toward Horne, forcing him into the road, the affidavit states. To avoid being struck by traffic, Horne jumped on the truck's running board and hung on as Cook headed south, the affidavit states.

Horne drew his sidearm and directed the man to stop, Sgt. Steve Gaskins said.

"He said to me he was in fear for his life," Gaskins said. "He looked out at the road and he saw traffic coming at him."

After traveling about 600 feet, Cook stopped in the median, jumped out the passenger door and ran, the highway patrol said.

Horne caught him.

The highway patrol said further investigation revealed Cook had cocaine with him.

Cook was being held without bail Thursday at Orient Road Jail. Other charges against him include aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, fleeing and attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia and driving with a suspended license.

Court records show that Cook has been on probation since November on a felony charge of solicitation to deliver cocaine. A finding of guilt was withheld in the case.

Cook's driving record shows he has been charged twice with driving with a suspended, canceled or revoked license, in 2003 and in 2005.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691 or jpoltilove@tampatrib.com.

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