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

Remond D. Brown II (Driver- Arrested)
DOB: 01/07/1992
Address: 3310 6^th Avenue North, St. Petersburg
Vehicle: 2015 Kia Optima
Charges: One count of Fleeing and Eluding, one count of Resisting Officer without Violence, one count of Obstruction by Disguised Person, one count of Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Property Damage, one count of Driving While License Suspended or Revoked, and Polk County warrants for Attempted Murder, Grand Theft Auto, Domestic Battery and Violation of Domestic Violence Injunction.

Luke Esenwein (Driver – Uninjured)
DOB: 04/29/1986
Address: 8356 Iris Avenue, Seminole
Vehicle: 2018 Infinity FX35

What:
Deputies assigned to the Violent Crimes Task Force have arrested a St. Petersburg man who was wanted in Polk County for attempted murder.

When:
The incident occurred at about 10:45 p.m. on Saturday, March 3, 2018.

Where:
Deputies tried to initiate a traffic stop on the suspect’s vehicle near near 18^th Avenue South and 28^th Street South in St. Petersburg.

Why/How:
Deputies assigned to the Violent Crimes Task Force have arrested a St. Petersburg man who was wanted in Polk County for attempted murder.

According to deputies, at about 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 3, 2018, deputies tried to initiate a traffic stop on a 2015 Kia Optima for failure to a stop at a stop sign near 18^th Avenue South and 28^th Street South, in St. Petersburg.

A deputy in a marked cruiser activated his emergency lights and siren in an attempt to stop the Kia. Initially the Kia slowed down as if it was going to stop but accelerated and fled from the deputy at a high rate of speed. The deputy did not pursue the Kia.

Deputies say the Sheriff’s Office Flight Unit monitored the Kia from the air and watched as the vehicle got onto I-275 and traveled northbound, exiting west onto 54^th Avenue North. The Kia turned around and traveled eastbound on 54^th Avenue North and made a southbound turn onto 16^th Street North.

Flight Unit deputies kept in communication with VCTF members notifying them of the Kia’s location and direction of travel.

Deputies say the driver of the Kia, 24-year-old Remond Brown, continued southbound on 16^th Street North and ran a red traffic light at the intersection of 9^th Avenue North.  After running the red light, Brown tried making an eastbound turn onto 9^th Avenue North and crashed into a 2018 Infinity FX35 that was traveling westbound on 9^th Avenue North with a green traffic light.  The driver of the Infinity, 31-year-old Luke Esenwein, was not injured.   

After the crash, Brown exited the Kia and fled the scene on foot. VCTF members converged and quickly apprehended Brown. A passenger that was inside the Kia fled the scene but was not identified or located by deputies.

Deputies say Brown had active warrants out of Polk County for attempted murder and domestic battery after he pushed a woman out of a moving car on Highway 60 East, in Lake Wales on February 17, 2018.

Brown was arrested and charged with one count of Fleeing and Eluding, one count of Resisting Officer without Violence, one count of Obstruction by Disguised Person, one count of Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Property Damage, one count of Driving While License Suspended or Revoked and Polk County warrants for Attempted Murder, Grand Theft Auto, Domestic Battery and Violation of Domestic Violence Injunction.

Brown was transported to the Pinellas County Jail without incident.

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.

Remond Brown booking photo.