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ST. PETERSBURG - A driver being chased by police caused a three-car accident Wednesday afternoon, police said.
Police officers pulled over Scott Williams near 16th Avenue North and Fourth Street North after finding out he had an outstanding warrant and a suspended driver’s license, the St. Petersburg Police Department said.
As officer Caricia Martinez approached Williams, he turned his blue Lincoln toward her, accelerated and nearly hit her, police said.
The police officers at the scene received permission to chase the driver, and as the pursuit began, the driver ran a stop sign at 16th Avenue North and Dr. Martin Luther King Street North, police said.
He ran into an Isuzu Rodeo, driven by San Tun. Tun’s car deflected off the Lincoln into the path of a Honda, driven by Scott Gaydos, police said.
Williams was trapped inside his car, and emergency workers had to cut him out, police said. He was taken to Bayfront Medical Center.
Tun was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Gaydos and his passenger, John Markmann, were treated and released at the scene.
Williams is being charged with aggravated assault, fleeing and eluding, possession of cocaine and reckless driving.
A staff report
Persuits are a question of importance. While it’s nice to get the bad guy you have to ask yourself if it’s worth it to put others at risk. The case in point here is the person he “struck” and the other car he “bumped”. I’m sure the reason the chase was authorized was because he tried to run over an officer which could be construed as attempted murder of a police officer but more likely will be charged as aggravated assault on a police officer. A person that would do that is more worthwhile catching, at the cost of putting others at risk, than one that participates in prostitution and narcotics activities only. If he would assault or murder a police officer what would he do to an ordinary citizen? I’m glad they got this guy off the street and hope he gets lots of jail time too. A pat on the back to the officers involved is well deserved.
I commend SPPD for finally going after a criminal and getting them instead of letting them get away as they usually do. The accident was the fault of the jerk who certainly needs some jail time. SPPD gets the pat on the back!
No doubt they did not ask the Mayor or Chief for permission to chase otherwise they would have been told not to bother our fine upstanding citizens!
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Posted by Barbara Sosa, Tampa on 06/29 at 04:28 PM
I don’t think that putting someone else’s life in danger was the smart thing to do. It’s not worth someones life. If the warrant was of importance then do your job in finding this criminal, put more effort and the job can be done.
It’s easy to say great job, but if your family member was the one hit, then it will be a different story.
It will ring lawsuit all over it because they should of stop the pursuit.