At about 9:52 PM on Friday, January 20, 2017 a St. Petersburg Police 2016 Ford Explorer was involved in a rollover crash. The crash also involved a 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
The crash occurred near at intersection of Fairfield Ave S and 43rd St South in St. Petersburg.
According to investigators, members of the Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF) were conducting surveillance on a stolen vehicle in the St. Petersburg area when VCTF member, Deputy Guy Habercom, was driving his marked Tahoe westbound on Fairfield Avenue, approaching the stop sign at the intersection of 43rd Street South.
Investigators say that Deputy Habercom tried stopping his cruiser at the stop sign but due to a suspected equipment malfunction, he was unable to come to a complete stop.
At the same time, VCTF member and St. Petersburg Police Officer Seth Maranville, was driving his marked Ford Explorer, southbound on 43rd Street South through the intersection of Fairfield Avenue South.
Investigators say that Deputy Habercom’s Tahoe struck the rear driver side of Officer Maranville’s Explorer causing the Explorer to lose control. Officer Maranville’s Explorer drove off the roadway and rolled over onto the passenger side of the vehicle.
Deputy Habercom was not injured. Officer Maranville suffered a minor injury and was driven to a local hospital.
Investigators say that neither vehicle was operating in emergency mode at the time of the crash.
The Violent Crimes Task Force is a county-wide, multi-jurisdictional task force that focuses on violent crime in Pinellas County. The task force is comprised of law enforcement officers from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, St. Petersburg Police Department and the Clearwater Police Department.
The investigation continues.