Floating pursuit in Tampa Bay ends in arrest

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 Office deputies on routine patrol, authorities said.

According to a report, Mark Koert was drunk when he tried to slam a stolen 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 was able to steer away from the boat and call for assistance.

When the Coast Guard responded, Koert turned his attention -- and his boat -- toward them, striking the Coast Guard's vessel twice.

Following routine procedure, Shute pulled out his .40-caliber Glock and fired two rounds at Koert's motor to disable it. He missed. The Coast Guard also fired shots and missed.

Koert fled all the way to the Platt Street bridge, where he became stranded in shallow water. Shute and Coast Guard members boarded the stolen vessel, arrested Koert and transported him to the sheriff's marine office.

The entire incident, which resulted in no injuries, was caught on tape. Sheriff's officials would not release the footage late Saturday.

Rodney Thrash, Times staff writer