The Pinellas County Use Of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force is currently examining a shooting incident that took place overnight, involving two deputies from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident began shortly after 3 a.m. on Sunday, August 27, 2023, when a Clearwater Police lieutenant observed a gray Dodge Challenger speeding past him at a speed exceeding 100 mph on northbound U.S. 19 at Sunset Point Road. The lieutenant tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the vehicle evaded, and he chose not to pursue it. Shortly after, another Clearwater Police officer spotted the exact vehicle near U.S. 19 and Republic Drive, still traveling at an excessive speed of over 100 mph.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office was alerted about the situation, prompting two deputies to deploy tire deflation devices on U.S. 19 near Klosterman Road. Despite this attempt, the vehicle continued northbound, and eventually, the deputies located it in the parking lot of a furniture store at 40528 U.S. 19 N.
With their emergency equipment activated, the deputies entered the parking lot to halt the vehicle and apprehend the driver. Once out of their patrol vehicles, the vehicle fled around the building, disappearing. The deputies chose not to give chase and remained on foot.
Shortly thereafter and for unexplained reasons, the car returned to the deputies’ vicinity and began advancing toward them threateningly. Fearing for their lives, both deputies discharged their firearms. Fortunately, the driver was not hit by the gunfire, and neither deputy sustained injuries.
The involved deputies are identified as Christian Miller and Nicholas Spicer. Miller was hired in May 2018, while Spicer joined the force in September 2020. Standard procedure in such cases, both deputies have been placed on paid administrative leave.
The suspect, Joey Young (born August 5, 1999), has an extensive criminal history and was released from prison in February of the current year. He had been serving time for armed robbery and drug-related charges.
Young has been booked into the Pinellas County Jail on charges including grand theft auto, two counts of aggravated assault on law enforcement, fleeing and eluding, and reckless driving.
Established in 2020, the Pinellas County Use of Deadly Force Task Force was designed to independently review shootings involving law enforcement agencies in the county. This task force is composed of representatives from the Clearwater Police Department, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, St. Petersburg Police Department, and Pinellas Park Police Department.
