Details Emerge About Crash That Left Cop Injured

St. PETERSBURG, FL — A 26-year veteran of the St. Petersburg Police Department was injured Monday afternoon when a vehicle speeding away from a traffic stop crashed into one of the agency's ATVs.

Police say the incident began to unfold around 4 p.m. when officers tried to stop a car at 4th Avenue South and 5th Street for seat belt violations.

"The car refused to stop and fled northbound on 5th Street South," the police department wrote in an email to media. "Officers did not pursue the fleeing vehicle and pulled over to the side of the street."

The fleeing car, however, kept going and ran a red light at the intersection of 1st Avenue South, the agency said. When it did, it struck an ATV that had just been put into service by the city Monday. The ATV was heading eastbound on 1st Avenue, police said.

The crash caused the police department's ATV to roll onto its side.

"The impact of the crash also disabled the car," the email said.

Two men inside the vehicle tried to run from the scene, but were caught by other officers who were responding to the scene. Inside the vehicle, officers found narcotics and two handguns, the email said. One of the guns had been reported stolen during an April 13, 2016, residential burglary.

The police department has not identified the police officer injured. It has said the officer suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the fleeing vehicle has been identified as Joshua A. Malone, 27, of St. Petersburg. He also suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Malone was taken to Bayfront Health for treatment. 

The passenger of the car, police said, was questioned and released.

Malone faces fleeing to elude, leaving the scene of a crash involving injury, driving on a suspended license, grand theft firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of crack cocaine with intent to sell, possession of marijuana and possesion of liquid THC charges.

"The ATV was just put into service today and had approximately ten miles on the odometer," the email said. "It is considered a total loss."

No further information is available.

Photo courtesy of the St. Petersburg Police Department

Sign up for the St. Pete Patch newsletter and alerts!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, too!