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Duo Threw Unopened Beer At Unmarked Car, Tampa Police Say

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TBO.com

Published: February 26, 2009

Charles Thomas

Andrew Rickert

TAMPA - Two men found out this morning that a beer causes legal headaches after police said they used an unmarked patrol vehicle as a chaser.

Tampa police Cpl. Richard Blasioli was on duty about 3:20 a.m., driving an unmarked 2001 Ford Expedition, when he stopped at a traffic light near North Armenia Avenue and Cypress Street.

He noticed a 1999 Toyota Solara cruising north on Armenia Avenue, which is the wrong way for the southbound-only road in that area, police said.

Here's what happened next, affidavits say:

As the Toyota approached, driver Andrew Rickert, 28, scooted the car a lane closer to the Ford. Then Charles Patton Thomas III, 24, leaned out of the Toyota's passenger window and threw an unopened 16-ounce can of Bud Light at the Ford.

The can struck the right front fender, causing about $1,000 worth of damage, police said.

Police didn't appreciate the target practice. Blasioli and other officers arrested the pair within minutes, charging them with throwing a deadly missile at an occupied vehicle, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Rickert, of Tampa, was held today at Orient Road Jail on $7,500 bail and was released on bond, records show.

Thomas, of Dade City, was held at the jail on $8,500 bail and was released on bond. Police also charged Thomas with misdemeanor marijuana possession and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia after officers found a drug pipe and a gram of marijuana on him, an affidavit states.

Both work at Lake Jovita County Club, according to jail records.

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