Gasparilla boat chase nets federal charges

TAMPA -- Mark Stevens Koert, a Realtor accused of stealing a boat after Gasparilla and leading authorities on a 40-minute chase, now faces federal charges.

Those charges include: forcibly assaulting a federal law enforcement office by use of a dangerous weapon, failure to obey an order of the Coast Guard and damage to property belonging to the United States in excess of $1,000.

Authorities say Koert, 27, was drunk late Saturday when he stole a 28-foot Maxim from the municipal docks at the Tampa Convention Center and tried to ram it into a boat carrying two deputies on a routine marine unit patrol.

The U.S. Coast Guard responded as back-up, and Koert allegedly hit that vessel twice.

"As the chase continued, the USCG personnel feared for their safety as Koert continued to try and ram their boat with his," the criminal complaint states.

A member of the Coast Guard crew fired two rounds from a shotgun into the engine of Koert's boat but failed to disable the boat.

"USCG personnel then ordered Koert to stop at gunpoint but Koert continued to try and run the Maxim over the USCG vessel," according to the criminal complaint.

The federal charges stem from the Coast Guard's involvement in the incident. Koert is due in federal court today at 3 p.m.

He also faces state charges of grand theft, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, fleeing to elude at high speed and reckless operation of a vessel.

-- Colleen Jenkins, Times staff writer

Comments

[Uma Gumma]

What no BUI charge?

[Pasco P.O.]

Imagine if you could a country where there were no drugs, even alcohol, since alcohol is a drug. Imagine if you could how low crime would be. HMMMMMMM, it sure would be nice.

[those realtors]

blame it on market conditions! maybe if people would buy and sell more, this poor guy wouldn't have time stealing boats and eluding the police and coast guard!

[marra]

"those realtors" are you kidding me?! are you seriously excusing this man's actions on the real estate market?! wow..maybe if he wasn't an idiot, this wouldn't have happened. The only place you can lay the blame is with him. I can't get over how stupid your comment was!

[Reeves]

Marra, you obviously don't have a sense of humor.

[Marra]

Reeves, I have plenty of a sense of humor but I just never found ignorance funny

For a home seller this might be the agent to hire to sell their home. This realtor is going to need a lot of money to get out of this jam, and will be motivated to work hard and get your house sold!

[L. Ranger]

In a previous article, it was noted that the man was drunk after copious Gasparilla partying. What i find interesting in this follow-up article is that there is no mention of the condition of his sobriety, or lack thereof and the obvious connection with his erractic and outrageous behavior to the Gasparilla event that is literally promoted as an all day booze it up and rebellious excuse to over indulge in the name of fun and entertainment. Seems like an overt attempt by the authorities and news media to put some distance between the Gasparilla event and the negative fallout and consequences that come when you encourage large amounts of the public to drink, party and act out disrepect for authority for the sake of making some quick cash for the city and its booze related establishments. (entertainment industry)

[Al]

Marra,

You are retarded.

[Comprehend Much]

L. Ranger, maybe you should read the article again.

He should of stuck to realestate and stayed out of open waters.

A shotgun isn't going to stop a boat. Why didn't the Coast Guard use a cruise missile?

[Ol'SaltyDog]

Ay, matey! No room for landlubbers on the high seas.

[mike]

Al . Better retarded than just plain DUMB.

[DR]

Pasco P.O., Does your imaginary world have no corrupt cops as well?

[scotty]

Those realtors...very funny.
Marra, did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed today...?