Boat aimed at deputies

By Times Staff Writer
Published January 27, 2008

A 27-year-old Tampa man was arrested late Saturday after he tried to ram a boat into one carrying two Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies on routine patrol, authorities said.

According to a report, Mark Koert was drunk when he tried to slam a 28-foot Maxim he stole from the municipal docks at the Tampa Convention Center into Deputies Paul Shute and Timothy Lundy, both of the sheriff's marine unit.

Shute steered away from the suspect and called for assistance. When the Coast Guard responded, Koert turned his attention -- and the stolen boat - toward them, striking the Coast Guard's vessel twice.

Following routine procedure, Shute fire two rounds from a .40-caliber Glock at Koert's motor in an attempt to disable it, but missed.

The Coast Guard also fired shots and missed.

Koert fled but was caught near the Platt Street Bridge, after he struggled to maneuver the boat in shallow waters.

Shute and Coast Guard members boarded the stolen vessel, arrested Koert and took him to the sheriff's marine office.

The entire incident, which resulted in no injuries, was caught on tape but sheriff's officials declined to release the footage late Saturday.

[Last modified January 27, 2008, 00:25:43]