A 90-year-old Central Beach resident is out on bond awaiting a court date after police say he struck an officer with his car several times while half-marathon runners competed nearby on Ocean Drive, then drove away. The police officer was conducting traffic patrol at Ocean Drive and Beachland Boulevard for the Vero Beach Half Marathon and Sea Turtle 2-Miler Race events, which had drawn hundreds of participants, when Bernard Thomas Chauss of Flamevine Lane drove up to the intersection shortly after 8 a.m. in his Blue Toyota. “While (the officer) was attempting to stop the driver, the driver hit him with the vehicle multiple times,” an incident report said. As amazed spectators watched, police said Chauss made a U-turn in the intersection and left the scene, heading south on Ocean Drive. Another Vero Beach officer stopped his car a few blocks away. When the officer ordered Chauss to step out of the vehicle, Chauss threatened to spit on and hit the policeman, reports show. Officers ordered Chauss to get out of the car several more times. When he continued to refuse, they pulled Chauss from the car, placed him in handcuffs, and booked him into the county jail. Chauss was charged with aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, simple assault on an officer, reckless driving, resisting an officer without violence and high speed or wanton fleeing. Chauss was released the next day from the Indian River County Jail on a $45,000 bond. His arraignment scheduled for 8:45 a.m. March 20, court records show. The police officer struck by the car was not seriously hurt and refused medical treatment, according to police spokesperson Officer Kelsea Callahan.