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Man ran into another car with his Jeep on purpose, police say

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Times staff
Friday, September 3, 2010

BROOKSVILLE — A 38-year-old Spring Hill man faces aggravated battery charges after being accused of intentionally ramming another car with his Jeep on Thursday evening.

David F. Leopold was traveling north on Mariner Boulevard approaching Cortez Boulevard about 7:30 p.m. when he got behind a 1995 Eclipse driven by Andrew Browning, a report from the Hernando County Sheriff's Office said. Browning slowed down to talk to a driver in another car, the report said.

As the three vehicles neared the traffic signal at Cortez Boulevard, Leopold, apparently upset by the delay caused by the two cars, rammed his 2002 Cherokee into the back of the Eclipse, the report said.

Browning turned east onto Cortez and then into the McDonald's restaurant parking lot, dialing 911, and Leopold followed. Browning again headed east on Cortez, then turned into the PineBrook Medical Center parking lot. When he tried to leave, Leopold drove into the Eclipse's passenger side, forcing the car into a ditch, according to the report.

Leopold jumped a median, headed west on Cortez and then north on Sunshine Grove Road. A witness followed and flagged down a deputy, who stopped the Jeep on Jayson Drive.

Leopold and his passenger told the deputy that both collisions were accidental. When the deputy smelled alcohol on Leopold's breath, he admitted to drinking one pitcher of beer, and a battery of field sobriety tests indicated he was impaired, the report said. The deputy also found a plastic bag containing 4 grams of marijuana and a digital scale in the Jeep, the report said.

Leopold was taken to the Hernando County Jail, where a breath test showed a blood alcohol level of .043, about half the level at which a driver is considered impaired in Florida.

In addition to aggravated battery, Leopold was charged with driving under the influence, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was being held Friday in lieu of $17,000 bail.

Browning complained of neck pain but did not otherwise appear to be injured, the report said.


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