Clearwater Police Arrest Carjacking Suspect Soon After Crime

CLEARWATER, FL -- Clearwater Police arrested a carjacking suspect less than 90 minutes after the crime occurred Monday morning, Jan. 22.

Samuel Eric Brown, 39, of Clearwater was charged with armed robbery and carjacking in connection with the incident, which was reported at 7:40 a.m.

Police received a call from a driver for United Cab reporting that a man stole his car and cash at knifepoint near Crest Lake Park.

The thief abandoned the taxi shortly after on Highland Avenue and DeLeon Street, just west of the crime scene.

Multiple officers, including a K9 unit, flooded the area in search of the thief. The effort quickly yielded results. An officer traveling on Highland Avenue just a few blocks north of where the taxi was abandoned noticed a man matching the description of the suspect.

Brown was taken into custody just after 9 a.m.

Photos via Clearwater Police