On Thursday, May 23, 2024, at approximately 5:10 p.m., deputies from the Patrol Operations Bureau of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office arrested 55-year-old Thomas McClave, an off-duty district fire chief, for Aggravated Assault with a Motor Vehicle and Simple Battery.
According to deputies, the incident involved 58-year-old Gregory Hicks, who was riding his bicycle in the shared bicycle/vehicle lane southbound on Gulf Boulevard near 175th Avenue in Redington Shores. McClave, driving his personally owned 2017 Chevrolet Pickup truck, was behind Hicks.
Deputies report that McClave pulled alongside Hicks, yelling for him to get out of the roadway. After a brief verbal exchange, Hicks moved his bicycle onto the raised median of Gulf Boulevard. McClave followed, intentionally driving his pickup onto the raised median and nearly striking Hicks, who had to swerve to avoid being hit. McClave then exited his vehicle, approached Hicks, and shoved him in the chest twice, also knocking a cell phone out of Hicks’s hands as he tried to record the incident.
McClave left the scene and came into contact with a deputy a few miles down the road. The original incident came in as a hit-and-run crash.
McClave has been employed with the St. Pete Beach Fire Department as a district fire chief since November 2023. He was arrested and charged with one count of Aggravated Assault with a Motor Vehicle (Felony) and one count of Simple Battery and was transported to the Pinellas County Jail. As of Friday, May 24, 2024, at 2:23 p.m., McClave remains in custody at the jail.
A witness recorded a video of the events described by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office deputies, which has been posted to social media.
STATEMENT FROM ST. PETE BEACH FIRE RESCUE
The City of St. Pete Beach has been notified of the arrest of District Fire Chief Thomas McClave on the evening of May 23, 2024. Chief McClave has been employed by the City since November 15, 2023. Pursuant to the City’s Personnel Rules and Regulations, Chief McClave has been suspended without pay, pending an investigation and final determination of possible disciplinary action. All inquiries regarding the charges against Chief McClave should be directed to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. The accused actions of Chief McClave do not represent the men and women of the St. Pete Beach Fire Department, who provide exceptional fire and EMS services to the residents and visitors of Pinellas County. The city will have no further comment at this time.