Clearwater police are investigating a crash involving two of their patrol cars early Friday morning.
Officers noticed a suspicious vehicle at Court Street and Myrtle Avenue at 5:37 a.m. The officers report that the occupants of the vehicle were passed out or asleep in the car.
"Nothing. They were all totally out of it," said police spokesman Rob Shaw. "While our officer was trying to bang on the windows to get their attention, that car started to roll through the intersection."
Police attempted to make contact with the driver, who became aware of what was happening and rammed his car into two patrol cars. The responding officers were not injured.
Marquese Bell, 20, and Omar Lee Butler, 19, are charged with felony drug possession after officers uncovered bags of marijuana in the vehicle. Investigators also found counterfeit cash and key fobs from previous car burglaries.
The car left the scene after ramming the two patrol cars and police pursued the suspect vehicle. Police used a PIT maneuver at 132nd Avenue and 119th Street to disable the vehicle.
"These are frequent flyers, this is something that they do all the time, far too many times, they go out and many times they will steal cars or break into cars," said Shaw.
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office tells ABC Action News, Bell and Butler could face additional charges for previous car burglaries.
Two other passengers, who are minors, also face charges for the incident. The 17-year-old driver is charged with aggravated fleeing and eluding, felony possession of marijuana, and two counts of aggravated battery on law enforcement.
