Four Teens in a Stolen Vehicle in Custody After Fleeing from St. Petersburg Police Officers
Shortly before 3 a.m., an officer from the St. Petetsburg Police Department (SPPD) noticed a Toyota van in the Riviera Bay area (83rd Avenue and 8th Street) driving without headlights on.
The officer lost sight of the van and called extra units because he suspected the passengers may be committing vehicle burglaries.
Multiple officers responded and according to SPPD, an officer tried to make a traffic stop, but the van fled. Police say, the officer didn’t pursue.
Eventually, the van turned into the church at 77th Avenue North and 16th Street. An officer turned into the parking lot and watched the vehicle drive over several parking stops and into a field before it did a “U” turn and drove directly at his cruiser, coming within several feet of striking him.
At that point, a pursuit was approved, say police.
The van finally stopped after turning down a cul-de-sac in the area of 94th Avenue North and 1st Street.
Four teenagers including the 15 year-old female driver were taken into custody. The van had been stolen earlier.
There were no crashes, injuries, or damage as a result of this incident.
The arrested juveniles and the preliminary felony charges they face at this time can be found below.
This case is still under investigation and charges could be pending:
Driver: 15 year-old female
-grand theft of a motor vehicle
-fleeing and eluding a police officer
-aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer
-burglary of an unoccupied conveyance
Passenger: 16 year-old female
-Burglary of an unoccupied conveyance
Passenger: 16 year-old female
-Burglary of an unoccupied conveyance
Passenger: 16 year-old Austin Nixon
-violation of probation