Arrest Made After Taxi Driver Stabbed to Death at St. Petersburg Gas Station
Update 10:45 p.m. on June 1, 2017
Homicide Suspect Arrest
Shortly after 9:15 this evening, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Violent Offender Warrant Unit arrested a man on a warrant from the St. Petersburg Police Department charging him with First Degree Murder for the death of John Andrew Hutchens. 27 year-old Juan Carlos Juares (AKA Juan Carlos Juarez), was found at a residence in unincorporated Pinellas County not far from where Hutchens cab was found. He did not resist deputies.
St. Petersburg Police detectives identified Juares as a suspect earlier in the day based on witness interviews and evidence, and were able to establish probable cause to obtain the arrest warrant. Throughout the afternoon detectives attempted to locate Juares, whose last known address was 4000 24th Street North #910, and enlisted the assistance of the Violent Offender Warrant Unit.
At this hour detectives continue to speak with additional witnesses. Juares will be booked at the Pinellas County jail shortly.
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Detectives from the St Petersburg Police are on the scene of a homicide at 38th Ave N. and 28th Street.
Police were called at approximately 1 a.m. on Thursday, June 1, 2017 about a man who was seriously injured.
He was found lying in the parking lot of a closed Citgo Gas station with upper body trauma from being stabbed.
When officers arrived they administered lifesaving measures however the man died at the scene.
St. Petersburg Police has identified the victim as 59 year-old John Andrew Hutchens of Pinellas Park. Hutchens worked for United Taxi.
Soon after, the cab was found abandoned near 47th Avenue North and 71st Way.
Detectives interviewed witnesses and are reviewing evidence collected from the two scenes.