St. Petersburg —A 22-year-old St. Petersburg man is facing multiple charges after deputies say he led authorities on a reckless drive in a stolen vehicle before crashing and attempting to flee on foot.
According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, deputies and aviation units tracked a stolen white Volkswagen Atlas that had been reported out of Pinellas Park. The vehicle was observed traveling at a high rate of speed and being driven in a dangerous and erratic manner throughout the county.
Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle using stop sticks multiple times, but the driver continued fleeing despite efforts to disable the vehicle.
The incident came to an end around 9:42 p.m. on April 21, 2026, near 46th Avenue North and 66th Street North, where the suspect crashed. According to investigators, the crash totaled one occupied vehicle and pushed it into four additional unoccupied vehicles in a private business lot, causing significant property damage. The driver of the struck vehicle was injured and transported to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital in St. Petersburg.
Authorities say the suspect fled the scene on foot without providing information or rendering aid. Aviation units maintained visual contact as he ran from the crash site, and deputies located and arrested him a short time later.
After being taken into custody, deputies say the suspect refused to identify himself, requiring the use of a fingerprint scanner to confirm his identity.
Investigators say the suspect then entered a residential yard near 4501 67th Street North, where he stole a black mountain bike valued at approximately $200 before continuing to flee. The bicycle was later recovered and returned to its owner.
Authorities also determined the suspect’s driver’s license had been suspended since 2020 and that he had been classified as a habitual traffic offender in 2024.
The suspect, identified as Da’jion Ladaniel Gamble, now faces multiple charges, including:
- Leaving the scene of a crash involving injury (felony)
- Burglary (felony)
- Driving while license suspended as a habitual offender (felony)
- Leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage
- Reckless driving
- Resisting an officer without violence
He was arrested on April 21, 2026, at approximately 10:18 p.m.
The investigation remains ongoing.