Pinellas Sheriff Arrest Man Following Robbery Spree, Shooting

PALM HARBOR, FL -- Pinellas County Sheriff's detectives are investigating a deputy-involved shooting at a Palm Harbor gas station after a man went on a crime spree in Pinellas County.

Around 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, deputies who were monitoring 32-year-old Christopher Kearney's GPS ankle monitor received an alert that his ankle monitor battery was low. Detectives say Kearney was ordered by the court to wear the GPS ankle monitor after he posted $105,000 bond and was released from the Pinellas County Jail two weeks ago.

Deputies tried locating Kearney but were unsuccessful. They contacted Kearney's girlfriend, 44-year-old Jennie Martindale of Tampa, and learned that Kearney stole Martindale's 2014 Chevrolet Impala and left the area. Shortly after, they received a tip that Kearney was in Clearwater. A deputy spotted Kearney but he fled in the Impala and deputies did not pursue him. Instead, a bulletin was issued to local law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for Kearney for tampering with an electronic monitoring device and grand theft auto.

At 1:45 p.m., the sheriff's office received a report that the Vixen Nail Salon at 2676 Bayshore Blvd., Dunedin, was being robber. A white man with tattoos approached 20-year-old employee Quynh Nguyen of Odessa and implied he had a weapon. He then stole her money and personal belongings.

While deputies were investigating the robbery, Alternative Sentencing Unit deputies attempted to locate Kearney by tracking the GPS on Martindale's stolen Impala. At 1:54 p.m., deputies were notified the Impala was stopped near the intersection of U.S. 19 North and Tampa Road.

Deputies responded and spotted Kearney with the stolen Impala parked at the Thornton's gas station at 32490 U.S. 19 N., Palm Harbor. Several deputies converged on the Impala and challenged Kearney at gunpoint. Kearney refused to comply with the deputies' commands, placed the Impala in drive and accelerated forward.

Sgt. David Webb Jr. and Deputy Chelsea Gross both fired at the Impala, discharging multiple rounds from their agency-issued firearms. Kearney drove recklessly through the parking lot and sideswiped a car near the gas pumps. Uninjured, he sped away in the Impala west on Tampa Road. Deputies pursued Kearney as he made a southbound turn onto Belcher Road and tried disabling the Impala with a precision immobilization technique but were unsuccessful.

Kearney continued south on Belcher Road, passed Curlew Road and made a left eastbound turn onto Ranchette Lane. He then traveled down Ranchette Lane toward the cul-de-sac. Deputies used the PIT maneuver a second time and Kearney lost control of the Impala, crashing into a tree.

He then got out of the car and fled on foot but was apprehended a short distance away.

Kearney led deputies on a foot chase but was apprehended not far from the vehicle. He became combative and deputies used a taser to subdue him.

Witnesses from the Vixen Nail Salon robbery positively identified Kearney as the robber. Detectives also learned learned that Kearney was a suspect in a robbery that occurred in Largo on Nov. 7 and at Thornton's gas station in Clearwater on Nov. 8.

Kearney bonded out of jail on Oct. 26 while awaiting trial for three counts of robbery, one count of attempted robbery and one count of grand theft auto.

His bond has been revoked and he faces additional charged of tampering with an electronic monitoring device, robber, grand theft auto, fleeing and eluding police and resisting arrest.

Clearwater Police charged him with one count of robbery with a deadly weapon. Largo Police charged him with one count of robbery and one count of grand theft auto.

Image via Pinellas Sheriff

(For more local news from Florida, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)