CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office arrested two boys accused of burglarizing multiple vehicles and stealing a vehicle in unincorporated Clearwater.
The two boys – ages 15 and 17 – were arrested early Friday morning in unincorporated Clearwater.
The 15-year-old St. Petersburg boy – who was the only survivor of a fiery August 2017 crash involving a stolen SUV – is charged with one count of grand theft auto, one count of loitering and prowling and one count of aggravated fleeing and eluding. Additional charges are pending.
The 17-year-old Clearwater boy is charged with one count of grand theft auto with additional charges pending.
Deputies set a perimeter around the boys with the help of a plane and K-9 unit. The chase began when the 15-year-old boy started running after seeing a marked patrol vehicle in the area of 298th Avenue North and 67th Street North. The sheriff’s office said around 2:16 a.m. deputies were patrolling for routine burglary prevention.
The boys are accused of getting into a stolen vehicle and driving onto US Highway 19 headed southbound. A sheriff’s office plane followed the stolen vehicle. Deputies attempted to use a tire-deflation device to get them to stop at US Highway 19 and Dimmit Drive. However, the boys were able to avoid it.
The vehicle then continued westbound on Sunset Point Road, where it made several turns before coming to a stop at Fulton Avenue and Harbor Drive. Both boys got out of the car and ran northbound, where deputies say they tried to hide by houses and in a wooded area.
Shortly after, deputies arrested the boys.
Deputies say both boys were on felony probation for grand theft auto. A task force aimed at reducing teen crime was also monitoring the boys.
The sheriff’s office said the 15-year-old had six active juvenile pick-up orders for various charges and is classified as a prolific juvenile offender.
Deputies took the boys to the Pinellas County Juvenile Assessment Center.
The investigation is ongoing.
What other people are reading right now:
- More passengers lifted off Norway cruise ship before towing
- Fifth earthquake strikes near Alabama-Florida state line
- Google 'Florida man' followed by your birthday: What's your story?
- Powerball jackpot to $750 million after no winner Saturday
- Florida couple forgot they left their toddler at the park for hours: deputies
â–şMake it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the 10News app now.
Have a news tip? Email desk@wtsp.com, or visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.