Suspected Car Thieves Lead Police on a Chase

Update Aug. 11, 10 a.m.: The St. Petersburg Police Department has released the names of the men involved in Monday morning chase. The driver of the vehicle has been identified as Darrell Antonio Carter, 36. He has been charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, aggravated fleeing and eluding, auto theft, driving while license suspended and possession of marijuana.

The other two men in the car were Bryan Michael Vicario, 23, and Chad Springer, 22. They have been charged with trespassing in a conveyance and possession of marijuana.

Earlier:

Three people are in the custody of St. Petersburg Police officers following an early morning chase that wound its way into Gulfport for a time.

It all started around 3:20 a.m. Monday when officers noticed a blue 2014 Volkswagen Jetta in the area of 18th Avenue South and 14th Street, a police email to media said. That car had been reported stolen back on Aug. 5 from Eden Isle Boulevard.

Believing they’d found a stolen car, officers tried to stop the Jetta at 20th Avenue South and 15th Street, the email said. The driver, however, had other plans. Rather than stop, he drove directly at a K-9 officer’s cruiser, forcing him to swerve to avoid a crash.

A pursuit was then authorized and lasted for about 10 minutes, passing through Gulfport, before winding up with the driver of the Jetta losing control and striking a parked vehicle in a driveway at 22nd Avenue South. The driver and two others were taken into custody, the email said. Two of the car’s occupants had to be taken to a hospital for treatment of non-serious injuries.

The names of those involved have not yet been released.