Police: Triathlon Worker Tries To Take Race Generator With Him

A day laborer who was working for the TriRock Triathlon on Sunday allegedly attempted to take a generator used in the race, according to Clearwater Police.

Police said Christopher James Fusco, 43, of Holiday, loaded the 3000W Honda generator into the trunk of his 2005 Hyundai. Another employee saw and confronted Fusco, who said the generator belonged to him. When Fusco was confronted again he removed the generator from the trunk and fled the scene, according to a police report.

Clearwater Police located the Hyundai in the 600 block of South Gulfview Boulevard and tried to have Fusco pull over for a traffic stop. Fusco reportedly failed to stop and took off at a high rate of speed, police said.

While "fleeing," Fusco "purposely entered another responding (police) officer's lane of travel, attempting to strike him head on. The officer took evasive action to avoid the collision, and the suspect continued eastbound on Bayway Boulevard at a high rate of speed," police said.

The suspect was later located on Palm Island Northeast under a dock and taken into custody, according to police.

Fusco was arrested and charged with grand theft, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, fleeing to elude, burglary, and violation of probation for battery on a law enforcement officer, police report.