Teenager ran cruiser off road, authorities say

An unlicensed 16-year-old is accused of ramming another officer's car before being detained.

By MATTIAS KAREN

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 15, 2000

OLDSMAR -- A 16-year-old with no driver's license ran a sheriff's cruiser off the road and fled into Hillsborough County before his car hit a median and flipped over, authorities said.

Jason Crotts, of 4437 Fairview Heights in Tampa, was clocked going 74 mph on a 45 mph stretch of Forest Lakes Boulevard about 5:10 a.m. Friday, Pinellas County sheriff's Deputy Cal Dennie said.

Deputies tried to stop Crotts as he turned into the Forest Lakes subdivision, but he drove "head-on towards one of the sheriff's cruisers, running it off the road," Dennie said.

Crotts, who was driving his father's Pontiac, then turned onto Tampa Road, running three red lights and was at one time driving on the wrong side of the road, Dennie said. After he entered Hillsborough County, one of the sheriff's canine units got in front of Crotts' car to try to slow it down.

Crotts then rammed into the canine unit twice from behind before a deputy used a maneuver known as the precision immobilization technique, which involves bumping one corner of the fleeing car to bring it to a stop. The Pontiac crossed the median, hit a soft shoulder and flipped, Dennie said.

Crotts was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa with minor injuries, was released from the hospital shortly afterward and was taken to the Hillsborough County Juvenile Detention Center. He has been charged with reckless driving, aggravated assault with a vehicle on a law enforcement officer and aggravated battery with a vehicle on a law enforcement officer.

Dennie said the deputy who was run off the road did not sustain any serious injuries either.

"Minor scrapes, that's it," he said.

Records show Crotts does not have a license. It was unclear whether he has a driver's permit.

Dennie said Crotts did not have a criminal record with the Sheriff's Office, and did not say why he tried to outrun the deputies.

Crotts' father could not be reached for comment. A listed phone number to a James Crotts, who lives at the same address as Jason, had been disconnected.

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