Tampa Police have apprehended five juveniles in a stolen car that has been spotted at several crime scenes over the past two days. The juveniles were apprehended in Pinellas County by Tampa Police with assistance from Clearwater Police and the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.
The juveniles are suspects in a string of crimes in Tampa, including a carjacking, a robbery, and auto burglary.
The car was stolen in a carjacking Friday evening at approximately 6:20 p.m. at the Meridian Point Apartments, when two suspects pointed a gun at a man and demanded his car keys. A car matching the description was spotted during a robbery early Saturday. Then Tampa Police were called out to Ben T. Davis Beach on the Courtney Campbell Causeway with a report of an auto burglary and attempted auto burglaries.
A car matching the description of the Mercury Sable stolen in the carjacking was spotted leaving the Beach and heading west on the Courtney Campbell Causeway.
A Tampa Police officer followed the car across the bridge into Pinellas County. This was not a pursuit, as the officer was following the car from a distance and at a normal speed until he had back up.
When the TPD officer had backup from Clearwater Police and the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, they attempted a traffic stop. The stolen car sped away and a brief pursuit ensued. The car stopped near McMullen Booth Road and Enterprise Road, and five suspects fled on foot. Tampa Police, Clearwater Police, and the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office teamed up to apprehend all five. One was in possession of a firearm.
