TAMPA MAN CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
INCIDENT WITH GUN STEMMED FROM HIGHWAY 'ROAD RAGE' SITUATION

A 24-year-old Tampa man was charged with one felony count of Aggravated Assault Wednesday afternoon after he brandished a handgun during a moving confrontation with another motorist on the city's primary east/west traffic artery in "drive- time" traffic.

DWIGHT SMITH (08-13-78) was taken into custody by Clearwater Police Patrol Officers shortly after the 4:12 p.m. "road rage" incident on Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard (State Road 60). Smith, a defensive back with the National Football League's Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was booked into the Pinellas County Jail.

According to investigating officers, Smith was driving a white Cadillac Escalade in the median (inside) lane of westbound Gulf-to-Bay when he and a motorist in the curb lane (the outside of three lanes) both began to move into the center lane of the highway. Each driver apparently felt he had the right of way, but both drivers avoided a collision.

However, when Smith and the driver of a Chrysler van, John Schultz (07-05-59) of 1536 Linwood Avenue in Clearwater, stopped at the traffic signal on Gulf-to-Bay at Hampton Road, they exchanged shouted words and profanities. It was at this point that Smith brandished a 9-millimeter semi-automatic handgun. (According to Smith, he "displayed" the gun because the other driver was being aggressive; according to Schultz, the driver in the Cadillac "pointed the gun" at him. Beyond this discrepancy, the two men had pretty much the same set of facts to share with investigators).

Schultz notified Clearwater Police of the situation using a cellular telephone, and provided a description of both the vehicle and the driver. A BOLO (Be On the Look Out) was radioed to all Patrol Officers, and the SUV was located and stopped by Patrol units minutes later on Gulf-to-Bay at Hercules Avenue.

Smith was detained for questioning and a handgun was recovered. Schultz was brought to the scene by other Patrol Officers and positively identified both the Cadillac and the man with the weapon. (Schultz told police he didn't recognize Smith – by name, reputation or appearance – as a Buccaneer).

Smith - who was cooperative and accommodating during the roadside investigation - admitted to brandishing the handgun, and was charged with Aggravated Assault. He was driven from the scene to the Pinellas County Jail shortly after 5 p.m. Both the gun and the SUV were seized by investigators.

This is the extent of information available at this time. Please direct any inquiries regarding this investigation to Public Information Officer Wayne Shelor at 727-562-4333.

Wayne Shelor
Public Information Officer
Clearwater Police Department