TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa's new police chief called the pursuit of a car by an officer late Saturday justified in that it was stolen and had been used in another auto burglary.
However, authorities say inside the car were four kids — and they would lead police on a chase toward Plant City that would end in a crash that killed a 44-year-old woman.
"This weekend's fatal crash is a tragedy. As you can imagine, the family is grieving," said recently-appointed Tampa Police Chief Mary O'Connor, who awaits confirmation by city council.
The crash happened around Saturday night at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Turkey Creek Road in Plant City.
The police department earlier said at around 10:45 p.m., officers spotted a stolen Nissan at 26th Street and Chelsea Avenue in Tampa. The car got away as officers began a chase eastbound toward Plant City.
As the car turned onto Turkey Creek Road, it hit the back of a Honda and forced it to crash into a telephone pole. The 44-year-old woman inside the Honda died from her injuries, police said.
Her passengers, a 24-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man, also were injured. The 24-year-old is said to be in critical condition.
A 12-year-old boy, two 14-year-old boys and a 15-year-old boy were inside the stolen car, O'Connor said, adding that two of the teens were arrested five days prior for the exact same crime: stealing and burglarizing a car.
Two of the teens currently are on home detention, and charges are pending for all of them, she said. None of the children are in custody.
"Both juveniles were placed on home detention and a third suspect had also just been arrested in January for similar charges," O'Connor said. "To say it is disturbing for them to again be driving a stolen vehicle is quite an understatement.
"This is no video game. This is real life with real lives at stake. And this time, these juveniles' actions cost an innocent person their life."
Three of the teens have a history of auto burglary run-ins with police, according to Tampa Police Department.
One of the 14-year-olds was arrested last week on March 9 for grand theft auto and resisting without violence. He was placed on home detention the next day for the arrest. The 15-year-old was also arrested on March 9 for grand theft auto and auto burglary. He was placed on home detention as well.
The other 14-year-old involved is listed as a suspect in a January 1 auto burglary in Tampa. He was placed in a diversion program on Feb. 17 for the offense.
The 12-year-old involved as no arrest history, TPD says.
It so far appears, O'Connor said, that the pursuit of the car "was within policy" as an officer learned it was a stolen car that had been involved in another crime. That's considered "a forceable felony investigation," continued O'Connor, who said the department's policy would be released to the media later.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office now is tasked with spearheading the investigation and determining what charges may be applicable in this case. The Tampa Police Department also will conduct its own investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.