Published: November 04, 2008 12:04 am      

Florida man charged with endangering deputy

WESTWOOD — A Florida man was arrested on a host of charges Saturday after he allegedly ran a sheriff’s deputy off the road with his Corvette.

Thomas M. Rice, of Inverness, was lodged in the Boyd County Detention Center following the incident, which occurred about 6:50 p.m. in the 900 block of Old Buckley Road.

According to the Boyd County Sheriff’s Department, Rice, who was driving a 1977 Chevrolet Corvette, nearly struck Deputy John Daniels’ cruiser head-on. Daniels was able to avoid a collision by swerving off the road and into a yard.

Daniels pulled back onto the road and began chasing Rice’s vehicle. Rice stopped his car in the 900 block of Old Buckley, and a brief struggle ensued as Daniels was placing the suspect under arrest, the sheriff’s department said.

Rice was charged with first-degree wanton endangerment, first-degree fleeing or evading police, second-offense driving under the influence with aggravating circumstances, resisting arrest, no insurance, improper registration plate, no registration receipt and driving on a suspended license.

A female passenger in Rice’s vehicle was charged with alcohol intoxication, the sheriff’s department said.

Daniels was assisted at the scene of the incident by Sgt. Rob Donta.

KENNETH HART can be reached at khart@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2654.