Man Accused of Hit and Run at Nudist Resort Left Scene to Weigh His Options

A resident crashed his car into the nudist resort’s property, then walked home to take a nap and mull it over, authorities said.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a trooper was dispatched to the scene of a hit and run accident at 2001 Brinson Road on Sunday, Aug. 19. 

On arrival, he found a tan two-door Chevrolet with heavy front-end damage and both airbags deployed locked up with the keys in the ignition. An aluminum pole with a cement base topped by a gate-opening keypad was ripped from the center of the roadway, the report stated.

A Pasco Sheriff’s deputy also responded, and went to vehicle’s registered address within Paradise Lakes, where there was no answer.

While completing the crash report, a resident approached the trooper and described a suspicious male walking with one pant leg rolled up in the complex who “appeared to be out of it,” the report stated. 

The sheriff’s deputy returned to the registered address a second time, and was admitted into the residence by the driver’s wife.

The deputy found Michael Douglas Shay, 40, sleeping, the report stated.

Shay was placed under arrest for leaving the scene of an accident and driving while license suspended with knowledge. Shay also had a Charlotte County warrant for driving while license suspended, the report stated.

Post-Miranda, Shay told the deputy he was driving around the neighborhood trying to fix the car’s air when he hit the post. Since no other party was involved, Shay told the deputy he thought he had some time before he needed to report it. Two hours had passed since the accident, the report stated.

“I was thinking about my options,” Shay told the deputy.

The deputy pointed out that he was sleeping. “I was trying to close my eyes,” Shay responded, according to the report.

While he was transported to Spring Hill Regional Medical Center for medical clearance, Shay became “emotionally unstable and would go back and forth through mood swings,” the report stated. When his handcuffs were removed at the physician’s request, Shay became “very agitated and hostile” toward the deputy.

While unrestrained, Shay “without warning” sat up from the bed and walked to the corner of the room. When the deputy told him to return to his bed, Shay refused.

“No, I’m going to stretch and I’ll do it one hand at a time. You can watch,” he said, according to the report.

Shay resisted the deputy’s attempts to restrain him, and was eventually forced to the ground and re-handcuffed, the report stated. Once back in his bed, Shay “looked at me and began to make noises and appeared that he was going to spit on me,” the deputy’s report stated.

According to the report, a nurse in the room had to put a pillow over Shay’s face until a spit mask could be placed on him.

Once medically cleared, Shay was removed from the hospital by five deputies and transported to the Land O’ Lakes jail. He was released Monday on $5,000 bond.