Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
- Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF)

Largo Police Department

Matthew Lukine Brown (Injured Driver - Arrested)
DOB: 04/11/1994
Address: 667 18^th Avenue South
Vehicle: 2011 Honda Accord
Citation and Charges: Fleeing and Eluding, Reckless Driving, Grand Theft (Firearm)

What:
Deputies assigned to the Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF) arrest a St. Petersburg man for Fleeing and Eluding, Reckless Driving, and Grand Theft of a Firearm.

When:
The incident began at about 12:15 a.m. on Wednesday, November 29, 2017.

Where:
The incident began in the area of 26^th Avenue South and 13^th Street South where the suspect’s vehicle was observed by VCTF members to be operating in a reckless manner.

VCTF members were able to stop the vehicle at about 22^nd Avenue South and 22^nd Street South, where the suspect was taken into custody.

Why/How:

At about 12:15 a.m. on Wednesday, November 29, 2017, Violent Crimes Task Force Members (VCTF) members observed a black 2011 Honda Accord in the area of 26^th Avenue South and 13^th Street South, operating in a reckless manner. The vehicle was seen driving through residential neighborhoods at a high rate of speed, with the headlights off, and not stopping for stop signs or a traffic light.

Due to the vehicle being observed operating in a reckless manner, VCTF members successfully deployed a tire-deflation device.

VCTF members then attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the suspect’s vehicle in the area of 22^nd Avenue South and 34^th Street South, when the vehicle fled at a high rate of speed.

Without initiating a vehicle pursuit, a VCTF member conducting surveillance observed a bright flash and heard a sound similar to a gunshot from inside the vehicle. The VCTF member then saw the driver discard what appeared to be a handgun, out of the vehicle.

VCTF members were able to successfully initiate a Precision Immobilization Technique (P.I.T.) on the Honda, at about 22^nd Avenue South and 22^nd Street South, and the driver of the suspect vehicle was taken into custody.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as 23-year-old Matthew Lukine Brown.

Deputies determined that while Brown was attempting to discard the handgun, he accidentally shot himself in the right thigh. VCTF members were able to recover the discarded handgun and learned the firearm was previously reported stolen from a vehicle in the city of Largo. Largo Police Department was notified that the firearm was recovered.

Brown was transported to Bayfront Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Brown was released after treatment and was transported to the Pinellas County Jail. Brown was charged and cited with Fleeing and Eluding, Reckless Driving, and Grand Theft of a Firearm.

The Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF) is a county-wide, multi-jurisdictional task force that focuses on violent crime in Pinellas County. The task force is comprised of law enforcement officers from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, St. Petersburg Police Department and the Clearwater Police Department.

The investigation continues. 

Booking photo of M. Brown