Who: Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Patrol Operations Bureau -Major Accident Investigation Team (M.A.I.T.)
Deputy Troy Savetz Age: 37 Hire Date: 06/08/2012 Vehicle: 2011 Ford Crown Victoria (marked cruiser) Zelda Robinson (Driver PSTA Bus/Injured) DOB: 07/02/1962 Address: 1640 58th Avenue, St. Petersburg Vehicle: PSTA Bus
Evan Lefevre (Arrested Driver) DOB: 11/11/1992 Address: 2501 59th Street South, Gulfport Vehicle: 2002 Toyota Arrested for Fleeing and Eluding, DUI, Two-Counts DUI with Property Damage, DUI Bodily Injury, DWLSR, Two-Counts Leaving the Scene with Property Damage, Leaving the Scene with Bodily Injury and Resisting Arrest Without Violence
Jeffrey Smith (Arrested Passenger of Toyota) DOB: 09/04/1994 Address: 2700 56th Street North, St. Petersburg Arrested for Resisting Arrest Without Violence
What: Deputies assigned to the Major Accident Investigation Team (M.A.I.T.) have arrested two suspects after the driver of the vehicle struck a deputy cruiser and a PSTA bus and then fled the scene on foot. The bus driver sustained injuries. The deputy sustained minor injuries.
When: Deputies responded to the crash at about 9:48 p.m. on April 1, 2015.
Where: The initial incident occurred at the parking lot for the beach access at 112th Avenue off Gulf Boulevard in Treasure Island.
Why/How: Investigators say while on patrol on Gulf Boulevard in Treasure Island, Deputy Troy Savetz, heard tires squealing in a parking lot for beach access at 112th Avenue. When the deputy looked over, he saw several people scattering and saw a beige 2002 Toyota striking the median in the parking lot.
Deputy Savetz turned his vehicle around and entered the parking lot as the Toyota was attempting to leave. According to investigators, the Toyota backed up as Deputy Savetz activated his emergency lights. As the Toyota backed up, Deputy Savetz began giving commands to the driver and the passenger of the vehicle to stop and put their hands on the dashboard. The two did not comply.
Investigators say the Toyota then attempted to flee the parking lot, striking the front push bumper of Deputy Savetz cruiser with the passenger side of the Toyota. The vehicle then fled southbound on Gulf Boulevard.
Deputy Savetz backed out of the parking lot to attempt to locate the vehicle and discovered the Toyota had struck the rear of a PSTA bus that had stopped to let passengers out at 108th Avenue on Gulf Boulevard. Deputies say both the driver and the passenger exited the vehicle and fled on foot as Deputy Savetz arrived on scene.
Deputy Savetz apprehended the driver, identified as 22-year-old Evan Lefevre, after a short foot pursuit.
The passenger identified as 20-year-old Jeffrey Smith was also apprehended a short time later.
The driver of the PSTA bus, 52-year-old Zelda Robinson, was transported by ambulance to St. Pete General Hospital for treatment of neck and back pain.
Deputies say there were several passenger on the bus. None were injured.
Deputy Savetz sustained a minor ankle injury as a result of the foot pursuit.
Lefevre was arrested for Fleeing and Eluding, DUI, Two-Counts DUI with Property Damage, DUI Bodily Injury, DWLSR, Two-Counts Leaving the Scene with Property Damage, Leaving the Scene with Bodily Injury and Resisting Arrest Without Violence.
Smith was arrested for Resisting Arrest Without Violence.
Both were subsequently transported to the Pinellas County Jail without further incident.
The investigation continues.
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