A Fredericksburg man was charged with a felony and jailed early yesterday after being accused of throwing eggs at a tow-truck--from his own balcony.

City police spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe said the incident began about 11:55 p.m. Tuesday in the 600 block of Greenbrier Court.

Dominion Towing has a contract to patrol the parking lots at Greenbrier, and one of its drivers was doing that late Tuesday.

As he was cruising through the 600 block, an egg struck the driver's side front panel. Bledsoe said the driver looked up and saw the suspect on a second-floor balcony.

While the driver was looking, Bledsoe said, the suspect threw a second egg, this one striking the driver's side mirror and splattering inside the truck.

The tow-truck driver shined a flashlight on the suspect and got a good look at him and his clothing.

A short time later, the suspect left in a Jeep that was driven by a woman. The victim followed him to College Avenue, then returned to Greenbrier to speak with police.

Officers later stopped the Jeep and brought its occupants to Greenbrier, where the tow-truck driver identified the man as the egg-thrower.

John Bryant, 31, was charged with throwing a missile at an occupied vehicle and public intoxication.

He was placed in the Rappahannock Regional Jail under a $4,000 bond.

It was not clear what led to the egg-throwing incident, but police said the Jeep belonging to Bryant's girlfriend had been towed by Dominion Towing a few months ago.