On June 5, 2024, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri held a press conference to discuss a new initiative to seize vehicles that have fled from law enforcement.

IONTB knows at least three cases where seizure paperwork has already been filed in Pinellas County.

Information related to the announcement by Sheriff Gualtieri can be found at https://iontb.com/starting-tuesday-a-driver-fleeing-from-pinellas-deputies-will-have-their-vehicle-seized-and-possibly-sold/

Case 1

A motorcyclist operated by 20-year-old Osmany Gonzalez Rojas was arrested after fleeing from deputies at approximately 8:28 a.m. on Tuesday, June 11, 2024.

The incident began when a deputy spotted Gonzalez Rojas traveling westbound on Ulmerton Road at high speed, passing 125th Street. The deputy, driving a fully marked 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe, attempted to catch up to the motorcycle, reaching speeds over 70 miles per hour, but the motorcyclist continued to pull away.

At the Ulmerton Road and Walsingham Road intersection, the deputy managed to get directly behind the motorcyclist, who was riding a Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle without a license plate. He was dressed in all black with a black helmet.

When the traffic light turned green, the deputy activated his emergency lights and siren, signaling the motorcyclist to stop. The motorcyclist looked back at the officer and then accelerated westbound on Ulmerton Road at a high speed. At the Ulmerton Road and 137th Street intersection, the motorcyclist passed multiple stopped cars in the right bicycle lane, made an illegal turn onto 137th Street (Vonn Road), and ran the red light.

The incident concluded near the Verizon store at 13817 Walsingham Road, where he was taken into custody. Upon arrest, the Gonzalez Rojas stated, “Let me go get my tag,” and attempted to run into the store but was apprehended. After being read his Miranda rights, Gonzalez Rojas claimed he did not see the deputy trying to stop him but admitted to improper driving and lane changes.

After being taken into custody at the location, a black and silver Smith and Wesson .40 caliber firearm, which was loaded, was found concealed in a vest or carrier affixed to his body.

Gonzalez Rojas, who is not 21 years of age and therefore does not meet the criteria for receiving and maintaining a firearm license under Florida Statute 790.06, was not licensed to carry the firearm. The weapon was in working condition at the time of discovery.

Following his arrest, the defendant admitted, post-Miranda, to possessing the firearm, bringing it inside his workplace, and taking sole ownership of it. He explained that he carried the weapon for protection, having been previously robbed at gunpoint in his hometown.

The defendant was charged with fleeing to elude law enforcement with wanton disregard and carrying a concealed firearm without a license.

He is facing the following charges.

• Fleeing to elude law enforcement with wanton disregard
• Carrying a concealed firearm without a license

A notice of seizure of the Kawasaki Ninja Motorcycle was filed in court on June 13, 2024.

Case 2

Deputies from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office attempted a traffic stop on a 2023 Black Mercedes GLA 250 SUV driven by 35-year-old Domonique Gamble, currently holding a revoked driver’s license. His license had been revoked on May 13, 2024, due to a DUI offense.

The incident began when Gamble was observed entering his vehicle at a local business. In a marked patrol car, deputies initiated a traffic stop for a driving violation with a suspended/revoked license. Emergency lights and sirens were activated during the attempt.

According to court documents, Gamble accelerated at a high speed, making a dangerous wrong-way pass on another vehicle. The suspect’s actions indicated an attempt to flee from the traffic stop.

With the assistance of the PCSO “Eagle,” the vehicle was located at his Pinellas Park apartment complex, where it was impounded. Gamble was taken into custody at approximately 1:23 p.m. on Monday, June 24, 2024.

A notice of seizure of the 2023 Black Mercedes GLA 250 SUV was filed in court on June 19, 2024

He is facing the following charges.

• Fleeing and eluding law enforcement
• Violation of Probation (DUI)
• Driving while driver’s license is suspended

Case 3

26-year-old Yasmine Boyd of Holiday fled a traffic stop on I-275, which ended with her arrest. The incident began at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 20, 2024, when deputies identified a vehicle with a tag not assigned to it. Deputies attempted to stop a 2007 gold Hyundai Sonata displaying a false paper tag.

As the officers attempted the traffic stop with emergency lights and sirens activated at 54th Avenue N and 38th Street, Boyd accelerated, making an evasive turn eastbound and then quickly heading southbound on I-275. She continued south for a short distance before losing control near 28th Avenue. The crash disabled the vehicle, and she fled on foot from the vehicle and attempted to hide and avoid law enforcement detection. She was located behind a row of bushes up against a house with the assistance of a K-9.

She is facing the following charges.

• Fleeing and eluding
• Resisting an officer

A notice of seizure of the Hyundai was filed in court on June 25, 2024.