Police: Suspect claimed to be Sam Elliot

BOCA RATON, Fla., Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Police in Florida said a man accused of stealing a boat and hitting a gas pump claimed to be Hollywood actor Sam Elliot on his way to a film shoot.

Investigators said Ira Bershatsky, 62, of Boca Raton allegedly stole a boat from a Key Largo man and the trailer struck a gas pump at the Circle K store at Mile Marker 99 on U.S. 1, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported Wednesday.

Police said they spotted Bershatsky driving north in the southbound lanes of U.S. 1 with smoke coming from the trailer. Officers said they were calling the phone number on a for-sale sign posted on the boat when Jorge Ibanez Avila of Key Largo pulled up next to Bershatsky's vehicle and identified the boat as his own.

Officers said Bershatsky claimed to be actor Sam Elliot on his way to meet "De Niro" for a movie shoot.

Bershatsky was arrested and charged with grand theft and multiple traffic violations.