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

St. Petersburg Police Department

Clearwater Police Department

Julius Ramone Johnson (Arrested)
DOB: 09/12/1985
Address: 201 South Jupiter Avenue, Clearwater
Charges: 1 count of Fleeing and Eluding, 1 count Trafficking in Cocaine, 1 count of Felony DWLSR

What:
Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF) members have arrested a Clearwater man who was out on bond for Vehicular Homicide involving the death of a Clearwater school crossing guard; after he flees from law enforcement officers during a traffic stop and is found in possession of drugs.

When:
The suspect was arrested at about 9:50 p.m. on Friday, October 28, 2016.

Where:
VCTF members initially tried stopping the suspect near 22^nd Avenue South and 31^st Street South, in St. Petersburg.

The suspect was arrested near a residence located 3026 Freemont Terrace South, in St. Petersburg.

How/Why:
Violent Crime Task Force (VCTF) members have arrested a Clearwater man out on bond for Vehicular Homicide involving the death of a local school crossing guard; after he flees from law enforcement officers during a traffic stop and is found in possession of drugs.

At about 9:50 p.m. on Friday October 28, 2016., VCTF members observed a 2017 Buick Regal with illegal window tint, traveling in the area of 22nd Avenue South and 31 Street South in St. Petersburg. When task force members tried initiating a traffic stop on the Buick, the vehicle fled at a high rate of speed. Members of the task force did not pursue the Buick and deployed stop sticks deflating one of the vehicle's tires.

The driver and only occupant of the Buick, 31-year-old Julious Johnson, was seen abandoning the disabled vehicle near a residence at 3026 Freemont Terrace South, where Johnson fled on foot. After a brief foot pursuit, task force members apprehended Johnson.

Investigators say that Johnson admitted that he fled from law enforcement officers because he did not have a valid driver’s license. Investigators also located approximately 33 grams of crack cocaine inside the Buick.

At the time of the incident, Johnson was out of jail on a $360,000 bond for Vehicular Homicide involving the death of a Clearwater school crossing guard on May 20, 2014, at the intersection of Gulf to Bay Boulevard and Belcher Road, in Clearwater.

Johnson was arrested and charged with Fleeing and Eluding a Law Enforcement Officer, Driving while License Suspended or Revoked (Felony Habitual), and Trafficking in Cocaine.

Johnson was transported to the Pinellas County Jail without incident.

The Violent Crimes Task Force 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 Julius Ramone Johnson.