Deputies Arrest Teen After He Crashes Stolen Car Into House

CLEARWATER, FL -- A 16-year-old Clearwater boy was arrested Thursday after Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies say he stole a car, crashed it into a home and then fled the scene.

According to the sheriff's office, at 11:35 p.m. March 7, deputies were called to a home at 1354 Eastfield Drive in Clearwater when a car crashed into a home. Witnesses told deputies that two juveniles fled the scene on foot after someone crashed a 2015 Kia Soul into the garage of the occupied home. No one in the home was injured.

Deputies learned that the 16-year-old had stolen a Kia belonging to a family member and had lost control of the car, crashing into a mailbox, a parked car and then into the home, causing significant property damage.

Deputies say the 16-year-old was already on felony probation for grand theft auto and was being monitored by the Habitual Offender Monitoring Enforcement program, a task force aimed at reducing teen crime. His GPS ankle monitor had just been removed that day after he completed his 30-day court-mandated monitoring period.

Deputies from the K9 unit and the flight unit responded to the scene and began tracking the teen and his 13-year-old passenger. They were apprehended a short distance away and taken to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

The 16-year-old, whose name is not being released in accordance with Patch policy, has been charged with one count of grand theft auto, one count of leaving the scene of a crash with injury, three counts of leaving the scene of a crash with property damage and one count of violation of probation.

The 13-year-old was not charged.

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