Spring Hill man accused of using Jeep as a weapon

A Spring Hill man is accused of intentionally ramming his SUV into a sports car twice Thursday night while traveling along Mariner Boulevard and State Road 50.

David Frederick Leopold, 38, of 11203 Linden Drive, was charged with aggravated battery. Additionally, he was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia after a plastic bag containing four grams of marijuana and a digital scale were found in his vehicle, deputies said.

Shortly after 7:30 p.m., the suspect was driving northbound along Mariner in his 2002 Jeep Cherokee when he came up behind two vehicles at the S.R. 50 intersection, according to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office.

Leopold got angry that the occupants in both vehicles were driving slowly and talking to one another, so he rammed his Jeep into the back of one of cars after the light turned green, deputies said.

Andrew Browning, who was driving a 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse, turned onto the highway and then into the McDonald's parking lot while Leopold pulled into the Bealls parking lot behind the McDonald's, according to an arrest report.

After Browning pulled back onto S.R. 50, Leopold followed him. Browning called 911 and turned into the parking lot in front of the Pinebrook Medical Center, the report showed.

Leopold continued to follow Browning, who was told by the 911 operator to leave the area. As he tried to pull out of the parking lot, Leopold's Jeep rammed into his car again, forcing it into a nearby ditch, deputies said.

Leopold jumped a median and started driving westbound along S.R. 50 and was followed by the driver of the second car, who had witnessed everything, according to the sheriff's office.

The driver of the second car, Adam Moore, flagged down the responding deputy, who then chased after Leopold's Jeep, authorities said.

Leopold turned northbound on Sunshine Grove Road, westbound on Taylor Street and then southbound on Jayson Drive before the deputy caught up to him, the report showed.

The suspect said the two crashes were an accident. He claimed Browning slammed on the brakes for no apparent reason the first time and had turned into him the second time while they were driving along S.R. 50, according to the sheriff's office.

Leopold's passenger gave his account of what happened. His story was consistent with the victim's, deputies said.

Browning complained of neck pain, but did not look injured, according to the report. His car sustained $500 in damage.

The arresting deputy stated he smelled alcohol on Leopold's breath and gave him a field-sobriety test.

Leopold, who said he had consumed a pitcher of beer that night, also was charged with DUI, deputies said.