DUNEDIN – Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Dunedin man early Tuesday morning for felony criminal mischief, discharging a firearm and use of a firearm while under the influence.
According to the Sheriff’s report, Mark Fitzgerald, 49, fired multiple shots on the Dunedin Golf Course, 1050 Palm Blvd., and caused damage to the city of Dunedin’s 200-foot water tower.
Deputies responded to the scene at about 3:44 a.m. Dec. 11 after several calls came in about gunfire in the area.
Upon arrival, deputies began to search for the source of the reported gunfire. Deputies then spotted a vehicle coming off a golf cart access just south of Palm Boulevard and directly across from the Country Club.
They stopped the vehicle, driven by Fitzgerald, who had a high-powered rifle, a .380 caliber, and a 45-caliber handgun in the vehicle. Deputies say Fitzgerald also displayed signs of impairment.
Fitzgerald told deputies he was searching for his lost dog and had his weapons with him for protection in case he encountered any coyotes. Deputies encountered him in his vehicle, but deputies say Fitzgerald had fired the rounds earlier, while on the course on his golf cart.
Deputies say Fitzgerald fired multiple rounds. One of those rounds hit a city of Dunedin water tower located just south of Curlew Road and east of Alt. 19. The tower holds about a million gallons of water. Deputies say water has been draining out from the hole caused by the round.
The city of Dunedin is working to get the damages to the water tower repaired.
Fitzgerald was booked into the Pinellas County Jail. Bond was set at $2,400.
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