Five teenaged suspects (ages 15-18) from St. Petersburg, all of whom who have criminal histories, were apprehended by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office minutes after stealing a Glock 9mm handgun from a vehicle in Davenport on Friday, June 25, 2021. The teens arrived in Polk driving a truck stolen out of Pinellas County. The stolen truck also had marijuana in it, which the suspects are being charged with possessing.
Around 2:20 p.m. that afternoon, the PCSO Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received a 911 call from a man on Aberdeen Avenue whose pickup truck had just been burglarized. A witness told the victim that he saw a black Dodge Ram pull up next to the victim’s truck, and a black male get out of the passenger seat, enter the truck, and take something from within. The victim discovered his firearm missing from the center console, and dialed 911.
Deputies responded to the area, and the suspect vehicle description was sent out via BOLO (Be On Lookout). Deputies saw a black Dodge Ram heading westbound on Ronald Reagan Parkway and conducted a traffic stop, at which time a rear seat passenger [Jakeiron Allen] exited and fled on foot. The driver and three other occupants stayed inside the Dodge, and were taken into custody without incident. The suspect who stole the gun [Tyger Woods] was positively identified, but deputies quickly realized that the stolen gun was with Allen.
The Dodge Ram was confirmed stolen out of Pinellas County, and a search of the truck revealed two baggies that tested positive for marijuana.
A perimeter was quickly set up, and the ECC sent out an Alert Polk message to residents in the area with the suspect description. The PCSO Public Information Office also posted a message to residents on Nextdoor, with the suspect description – a black male wearing a black hoodie, armed with a handgun. The ECC quickly began receiving calls from citizens, while at the same time the PCSO helicopter, deputies, and two canine teams searched the area within the perimeter.
While fleeing, Allen entered a construction zone and attempted to carjack a vehicle. The carjacking victim pulled Allen out of his vehicle, at which time Allen pointed the firearm at the victim before running away and jumping a fence. Allen ended up in the parking lot of a fire station, where he was confronted by a firefighter who ordered him to stop. The firefighter heard the carjacking victim and others yelling “he’s got a gun,” as Allen began fumbling with something in his hoodie pocket. The firefighter retreated, in fear Allen would use the gun. Allen was later located and apprehended by canine team Deputy Sheriff Amber Ludlow and K-9 Bonez.
“I am sick and tired of juvenile suspects being treated with kid gloves. Here are five more examples of what happens when you don’t hold suspects accountable. During their most recent crime spree, they stole a truck, and then a gun, tried to carjack someone, and almost shot a firefighter. Our message is clear – if you come to Polk County to victimize our citizens, we will put you in jail and do everything in our power to ensure you are held accountable, regardless of your age.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff