Clearwater police arrested 24-year-old Jose B. Canas Vargas, a Venezuelan national, on June 22, 2025, following a series of incidents that began at the U.S. Post Office located at 100 S. Belcher Road. According to arrest affidavits, at approximately 6:23 pm., Vargas was observed removing and burning an American flag and a Prisoner of War (POW) flag, property of the U.S. Postal Service, valued at approximately $180.
A witness reported seeing Vargas flee the scene on foot. Officers later located him actively burning the flags in the parking lot of a nearby gas station. Officers attempted to detain Vargas, who fled into a residential area, leading to a foot pursuit.
During the pursuit, Vargas entered a shed on private property on Gulf to Bay Boulevard, which was occupied by two dogs and belonged to a family living at the residence. He held the shed door shut from the inside in an attempt to hide. Police obtained video footage showing Vargas inside the shed and later observed him leaving the structure.
After exiting the shed, an officer pursued Vargas on foot and issued a loud verbal command for him to stop, warning that a Taser would be deployed if he failed to comply. Vargas ignored the command and continued to flee. The officer deployed the Taser, but it was ineffective.
The pursuit continued through a housing complex. The officer eventually made physical contact with Vargas and issued commands for him to get on the ground. Vargas physically resisted by bracing, tensing his body, and pulling away. He shouted “No!” and fled again on foot through the complex.
Vargas was later observed exiting a carport with a black e-bike valued at approximately $1,500. Officers issued additional commands for him to stop. As one officer attempted to detain him, Vargas dropped the e-bike and again ran on foot. The e-bike was later recovered across the street from the residence.
Upon final apprehension, Vargas provided a false name, “Jason Gutierrez,” and refused to give his date of birth. He was eventually identified through police records, including a previous booking photograph from April 2025.
In the April arrest, Canas Vargas was accused of stealing shoes from the Walmart on Roosevelt Blvd.
He was charged with the following offenses:
- Petit Theft
- Criminal Mischief
- Public Mutilation of a U.S. Flag
- Resisting an Officer Without Violence
- Providing False Name to Law Enforcement
- Burglary of an Occupied Dwelling (Felony)
- Burglary of an Unoccupied Structure (Felony)
- Grand Theft (Felony)
Vargas remains in custody in the Pinellas County Jail.