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Pasco man faces charges in fracas

He is accused of wielding a knife at a motorist, kicking a Pinellas deputy and smashing cruiser windows.

By Times Staff Writer
Published June 25, 2005

DUNEDIN - A Pasco County man threatened a fellow motorist with a knife after a minor traffic accident and struggled with deputies trying to arrest him Friday morning, Pinellas County sheriff's deputies said.

Thomas J. Muessig, 20, of 6700 Stock St., Port Richey, was arrested after a brief chase and struggle, and was subdued with a Taser after he kicked the windows out of a sheriff's cruiser, sheriff's officials said.

Matthew W. Kurz, 22, of Dunedin said he and Muessig were involved in a minor accident at State Road 580 and Virginia Avenue shortly before 9 a.m.

Muessig didn't want law enforcement called to the scene, deputies said. Kurz and Muessig argued, then scuffled, then Muessig went into Kurz's car.

When Kurz approached him, Muessig brandished a knife, deputies said. Kurz backed away and Muessig ran, dropping the knife.

Retired Clearwater police officer Charles Howard saw what happened and ran after Muessig but lost him. Deputies found Muessig behind a store off Virginia Avenue. He initially refused to show deputies his hands and began to act violently, but eventually responded and was placed on the ground. There, he used both feet to kick Deputy Regina Tsanakaliotis in the knee, deputies said. She was treated and released from Mease Hospital Dunedin.

Muessig was put in the back seat of a cruiser and kicked out the windows of the vehicle, deputies said. Deputies then used a Taser to subdue him.

Muessig, who suffered minor injuries during the chase, was checked out at Mease Hospital Countryside, then taken to the Pinellas County Jail to be booked on three counts of aggravated assault, resisting arrest with violence, leaving the scene of an accident, battery, armed burglary, battery on a law enforcement officer and felony criminal mischief.

[Last modified June 25, 2005, 00:34:16]