ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) — A former St. Pete Beach district fire chief has pleaded guilty to multiple misdemeanor charges after nearly hitting a bicyclist with his truck in late May.
Court documents show Thomas McClave made a plea deal earlier in October.
Spring Hill driver speeds off after hitting teen walking to school: FHP
He had served as a district fire chief for the St. Pete Beach Fire Department for about six months before his arrest on May 23.
A release from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said McClave was off duty that afternoon when he got into a heated traffic dispute with a bicyclist on Gulf Boulevard.
While driving behind the cyclist, McClave reportedly began yelling at him to get out of the road.
The bicyclist moved to the raised median, but McClave followed, driving his personal pickup truck onto the median and nearly hitting the man.
The former district fire chief then got out of his truck, went up to the bicyclist and shoved him twice, authorities said.