A former fire chief in the St. Pete Beach, arrested in May after deputies say he swerved his truck into a bicyclist and then pushed the Redington Shores man, has pleaded guilty.

Thomas McClave Jr. pleaded guilty earlier this month to charges of simple battery, reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage.

The first two charges are first-degree misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in county jail. The third charge is a second-degree misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of 60 days in jail.

McClave was given one year of probation and ordered to pay cyclist Greg Hicks $11,987 in restitution. Among other expenses, the amount covered the cost of repairing Hicks’ state-of-the-art Trek road bike and replacing his iPhone, said McClave’s attorney, Kym Rivellini. Hicks pulled out his iPhone just before McClave pushed him, evidence showed.

“We were pleased to be able to resolve this and that all parties seem to feel this was an appropriate resolution,” Rivellini said.

Hicks’ attorney, J. Kevin Hayslett, said Hicks approved the indictment and plea agreement because McClave took responsibility for his actions and agreed to take part in anger management.

“Anytime you have a tragedy, there’s potential pain on both sides, especially the victim’s side, to relive the incident,” Hayslett said. “The disposition is that Mr. McClave accepts full responsibility, pleads guilty to all counts and will be sentenced on all charges.”

Pinellas deputies arrested McClave, 56, hours after the May 23 incident on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and simple battery. The assault charge is a third-degree felony.

The Pinellas-Pasco State’s Attorney’s Office instead filed the three misdemeanor charges in late July.

State’s Attorney Bruce Bartlett told the Tampa Bay Times in August that those charges were more appropriate given the evidence, which included a video of part of the incident and witness accounts. Bartlett said the front of McClave’s truck hit the back of Hicks’ bike, but not Hicks himself.

“There are consequences for his actions and he understands that and he has accepted the consequences,” Bartlett said this week.

McClave was off-duty driving his personal vehicle, a 2017 Chevrolet pickup, south on Gulf Boulevard near 175th Avenue when he rear-ended Hicks, 58, who was driving in the right lane. carpool, according to arrest reports and information previously released by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

McClave pulled up next to Hicks and yelled at Hicks to get out of the roadway, deputies said.

The arrest report states that McClave drove his truck “into a center median toward Gregory Hicks making contact with Hicks while he was on his bicycle.” According to the report, McClave “was involved in a verbal dispute” with Hicks. McClave then got out of his truck and pushed Hicks, a report said.

A video shot by a witness and gave the Times the moment McClave swerved his truck into Hicks.

The video shows Hicks stayed straight but had to veer off the median and into a left turn lane for oncoming traffic. The video then shows McClave getting out of the truck and pushing Hicks as he sits in the turning lane holding his phone.

McClave then got back into the truck and drove off.

McClave was released from jail the day of his arrest after posting $36,000 bond.

The fire department of St. Pete Beach hired McClave in November. In a statement after his arrest, the department said he has been suspended without pay pending an investigation and a final decision on possible disciplinary action.

McClave resigned from his post in June. According to the city, his annual salary at the time of his resignation was $104,153.