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Deputies Say Man Pulled Gun On Neighborhood Speeder

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By LISA A. DAVIS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 16, 2009

Charles Lein

PORT RICHEY - Charles Lein, 70, didn't like seeing the younger man speeding in the neighborhood, he told Pasco deputies.

So he took the matter into his own hands. He stopped his car at the intersection of Rose Petal Court and Box Elder Drive in Orchid Lake Village and started beeping his horn, according to a sheriff's office report.

Moments later, deputies say, he was pointing a silver handgun at Shaun Frederick Troupe, 30, and punching him. Troupe caught some of the incident, including the gun-pointing, on video using his cell phone, a report states.

Troupe told deputies Lein swerved his vehicle toward his pickup, stopped and started honking at him. Troupe stopped and asked why he was honking and then the pair started yelling at each other.

Troupe went to get his cell phone and that's when, deputies say, Lein pulled a gun on him and then hit him with it. When Troupe got out of his truck, Lein threatened to shoot him, a report states.

Lein's version of the story, according to a report, is somewhat different: He got out of his vehicle to confront Troupe about speeding and thought the younger man was reaching into his glove compartment to get a gun so he pulled out his. When Troupe tried to get out of his truck, he pushed him and held his door closed because he was afraid he was going to get shot.

Lein denied hitting Troupe with the gun but told the deputy he tried to pull the gun's chamber back and it got jammed, cutting his hand. A 48-year-old friend of Lein's and her 8-year-old were with him when the altercation occurred but, she told deputies, they ran away when the altercation began. Neither reported seeing a gun.

When deputies arrived at the intersection, however, Lein was holding the gun and they ordered him to drop it, which he did.

The deputies also watched the video showing Lein hitting Troupe with the gun, the report states. He was not seriously injured.

Lein, of 7233 Lake Magnolia Drive, New Port Richey, was arrested on charges of armed burglary and misdemeanor battery. He was released from Land O' Lakes Jail early this morning after posting $50,150 bail.

He couldn't be reached for comment today.

Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at ldavis@tampatrib.com or (727) 815-1083.

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