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1 Drew A Gun; 1 Pulled Phone, Deputies Say

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By LISA A. DAVIS

ldavis@tampatrib.com

Published: February 18, 2009

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

So he took the matter into his own hands Sunday. He stopped his car at 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. Then they started yelling at each other.

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

Lein's version of the story is somewhat different. Here's what he told authorities:

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, Lein 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.

When deputies arrived 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. Troupe 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 on Monday after posting $50,150 bail.

Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083.

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