Two armed men robbed a St. Petersburg woman of her car during a home invasion Wednesday night, officials said.
The men accused of taking the vehicle led Pinellas County sheriff's deputies on a pursuit before crashing the car into a tree and running away.
One suspect was arrested; the other remains on the loose as deputies continue the investigation.
The 28-year-old victim was left uninjured, a Pinellas County Sheriff's Office news release said.
Shortly before 8:30 p.m. Wednesday two men knocked on the door of an apartment in the 6500 block of 51st Avenue North. Terra Bertocci answered the door and one of the men threatened her with a handgun, the release states.
The men demanded the keys to her car, a 2008 Lexus ES350, which she gave them. Both men then fled the scene in the car.
Deputies responding to the scene spotted the victim's Lexus near the intersection of 49th St. N and 54th Ave N. They tried to conduct a traffic stop before the Lexus sped away northbound on 49th St. N.
Deputies attempted to stop the Lexus, when the car turned around and headed southbound on 49th St.
The Lexus was involved in a minor traffic crash at 49th St. N and 54th Ave. N. The Lexus sustained a flat tire and continued westbound on 54th Ave. N to 54th St. N., where the car turned south into a residential area.
Pursuing deputies performed a tactical manuever, utilizing their vehicle to make contact with the Lexus and force the car to lose control. The Lexus struck a tree and was disabled. Both suspects ran from the scene.
Deputies and police dogs conducted an extensive search for the suspects.
Deputies found 21-year-old Richard Cann, who deputies said was the driver of the stolen Lexus, hiding in a swimming pool behind a home at 5020 54th St. N. The second suspect has not been found.
The handgun was found in the Lexus, the release states.
Deputies described the second suspect as a black man, about 6-foot-2, with dark skin, short twist dreads and wearing a maroon shirt and black pants.
Cann was arrested without incident and taken to the Pinellas County Jail. Cann was charged with home invasion robbery with a deadly weapon, grand theft motor vehicle, fleeing and eluding, leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage, and no valid driver's license.
Deputies are asking anyone with information about the robbery to contact the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office at (727) 582-6200 or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS or www.crimestoppersofpinellas.org.
