Man Arrested Following 2 Carjackings In Pinellas Park

PINELLAS PARK, FL — A St. Augustine man is in jail after Pinellas Park Police say he committed two carjackings within a half hour in Pinellas Park on Thursday afternoon.

Around 3:15 p.m., Pinellas Park Police responded to a call about a carjacking in the 3400 block of 67th Avenue North. Tatiana Schwaninger, 23, of Clearwater told officers that she just left work and got into her car when she was approached by Cassidy Daniels, 27, who implied he had a weapon and ordered her out of the car. Daniels then drove away in Schwaninger's car.

As police were investigating, they received a second call about a carjacking in the 6500 block of 51st Way North. A 16-year-old boy had just arrived home and was getting out of his vehicle when Daniels carjacked his vehicle, driving away and leaving behind Schwaninger's car.

Daniels was spotted moments later speeding north on 66th Street North in the second stolen vehicle. Police began pursuing him as he turned west on Bryan Dairy Road and continued to Starkey Road, driving fast and recklessly.

At 86th Avenue and Denise Drive in unincorporated Pinellas County, he abandoned the vehicle and began to flee on foot. Officers took him into custody after a brief pursuit.

Daniels is charged with two counts of carjacking, one count of aggravated fleeing and eluding and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.