Hernando Sheriff Richard Nugent puts brakes on reckless driver

SPRING HILL — The concerned residents of the Wilburton/Altoona Avenue area had had enough.

For some time, a guy in a small green car had been speeding through their neighborhood, endangering children and people walking along the street. In short, he had been making their lives "a nightmare,'' a resident said in an anonymous letter mailed Monday to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office.

Worst of all, according to the writer, "the police are never there when this happens."

The homeowners want the reckless driver stopped. To help deputies, the writer gave the car's license number — 248-VUE — and a detailed description of the vehicle: A green Saturn sedan with a missing front fender.

Before he even saw the letter, Sheriff Richard Nugent took care of business.

On Wednesday morning, on his way to work, Nugent saw a car blow through two stop signs near Cooper Road and Stratton Avenue. The sheriff flicked on the emergency lights in his cruiser and went after the speeder.

Moments later, he caught up to the vehicle, a green 1997 Saturn sedan with license plate 248-VUE.

While questioning the driver, Chance Joseph Spano, 24, Nugent noted that Spano seemed to be impaired, and called for backup deputies. Spano had trouble standing upright and had slurred speech, according to an arrest report.

Inside Spano's car, deputies discovered several pill bottles containing oxycodone, methadone and other medications. Some of the bottles were empty. Spano told authorities he had prescriptions for all the medications.

Spano, of 1235 Bardahl Ave., took a breath test and recorded a 0.000; he was unable to give a urine sample, the report stated. He was arrested on a charge of DUI based on his observed driving habits and the results of his roadside demeanor, according to the report.

He was taken to the Hernando County Jail. Records show he was arrested on similar charges twice in 2004.

The letter from the resident finally landed on Nugent's desk Thursday morning.

"We wanted to let that person (who wrote the letter) know that this guy is off the street," said Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Donna Black.

Logan Neill can be reached at lneill@sptimes.com or 848-1435.