St. Petersburg Police Officer Involved in a Shooting
The information in this media alert is preliminary. Criminal and Administrative investigations are still on-going at this time.
On Monday December 23, 2013 at 7:03 a.m., Mr. Adrian King, 1712 Tanglewood Drive N.E. called the St. Petersburg Police Department to report two vehicles had been stolen from his home overnight. One vehicle was a silver 2012 Ford F-150 and the other was a black 2004 GMC Envoy.
Mr. King said the doors to the Ford F-150 were unlocked and the keys were in the center console. He believed the GMC Envoy had been locked.
When a St. Petersburg Police Officer arrived to investigate the auto theft call, Mr. King told him that he was able to access the GPS system of the IPad that was located inside one of the stolen vehicles.
According to the GPS on the IPad, at least one of the stolen vehicles was in the area of 20th Avenue South and 11th Street South.
The investigating officer issued a description of the stolen vehicles and the information from the IPad’s GPS over the police radio.
Officer Brian Fernandez, 29, is a solo probationary officer who became a sworn officer on June 24, 2013.
Officer Fernandez was in uniform and driving a marked police cruiser in the area of 20th Avenue South and 11th Street South when the information about the stolen vehicles was dispatched over the police radio and he was dispatched to check that area.
Officer Fernandez observed several vehicles and individuals in the front yard of the duplex located at 2007 and 2011 11th Street South.
Officer Fernandez exited his cruiser and approached the vehicles and individuals as other patrol units moved into the area to assist.
The individuals in the front yard began running in various directions; some of the individuals fled the area on foot while at least two others entered the stolen 2004 GMC Envoy and drove out of the area (it was found abandoned a few hours later in far south St. Petersburg).
At least one person entered the stolen 2012 Ford F-150, which was backed up in the front yard of the duplex. The driver of the Ford F-150 drove it toward Officer Fernandez.
Officer Fernandez fired several rounds from his Department issued sidearm that struck the Ford F-150.
At least one bullet struck the driver, who has been identified as Quade Lavo Everett, DOB: 1/14/96, 2701 58th Street North.
The Ford F-150 crashed into a white Nissan Rogue parked on the street in front of the duplex where it stopped.
Officers and paramedics rendered aid to Quade Everett, who was transported to a local hospital and is currently listed in life-threatening condition.
Investigators have notified his mother, Laquanda Everett.
Although the investigations are still ongoing, it appears that several individuals were involved in stealing cars overnight and that these individuals were all meeting at the duplex at 2007 and 2011 11th Street South.
We believe the individuals were removing items from at least four stolen vehicles and stacking them up in the yard when Officer Fernandez approached them.
We believe there are more stolen items inside of the duplex, so investigators are currently serving a search warrant at the property.
The Department is conducting a criminal investigation in conjunction with the Pinellas Pasco State Attorney’s Office, and the Department’s Internal Affairs Unit is also conducting an administrative investigation. Officer Brian Fernandez will be on paid administrative duty for now.
All of these actions are “standard procedure” whenever an officer intentionally discharges his firearm in the performance of his duties.
The attached photo is of Quade Everett, who has an extensive criminal history, including Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer, Fleeing and Eluding, multiple charges of burglary to a residence and burglary to an occupied structure, possession of cocaine and marijuana, auto theft, simple battery, traffic charges, and violations of probation.
Information provided by Bill Proffitt on Monday December 23, 2013 at 2:15 p.m.
[mappress mapid=”117″]