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Pinellas County Deputies Chase Carjacker Into Water

Mason Dixon March 8th, 2022
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The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office posted the video of a chase on their Facebook page.

This past Sunday, March 6, deputies were called to a fight in Dunedin. It was a drug deal that apparently went bad. One of the men in the fight stole the other’s car, and Clearwater Police attempted to stop the driver.

A sheriff’s office helicopter was brought in to help. The fleeing vehicle was spotted driving a high rate on North Ft. Harrison Avenue driving dangerously. The car was followed through Clearwater, Largo, Belleair Bluffs and Bellear Beach before failing in an attempt to carjack another vehicle.

While heading south on Gulf Blvd., he crashed into several cars. He carjacked one of the other vehicles involved in a crash. He then drove through Indian Shores, crashing through fences and into mangroves that border the intercoastal waterway.

You can see the last segment in the video and his attempt to escape into the water. He racked up 31 charges, including 12 counts of leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, 11 counts of DUI with property damage, 3 counts of fleeing and eluding, 2 counts of carjacking, 1 count each of of attempted carjacking, resisting offer with violence and robbery by sudden snatching.

Deputies Arrest Man on 31 Charges after Multiple Carjackings & Crashes

On March 6th at approximately 4:30PM, deputies responded to a report of two men physically fighting at the Dunedin Cove Motel. Upon arrival, they learned that 27-year old Kenneth Lunford, Jr. got in a fight with another man following a drug deal. Lunford then stole the man’s car and fled the scene. The Eagle was requested and a BOLO was issued for surrounding agencies. After attempted traffic stops by the Clearwater Police Department, Flight Unit deputies spotted Lunford, due to his high rate of speed, southbound on North Fort Harrison Avenue. They watched as he continued to drive in an extremely dangerous manner with no regard for others. After driving through areas of Clearwater, Largo, Belleair Bluffs, and Belleair Beach, Lunford unsuccessfully attempted to carjack another victim at a stoplight in Indian Rocks Beach and continued to flee southbound on Gulf Boulevard. He crashed into two vehicles in front of The Original Crabby Bills before exiting the stolen vehicle and carjacking a vehicle involved in the crash. He continued to drive recklessly before crashing into another vehicle in Indian Shores, driving through a fence, and driving off a seawall into the mangroves. Lunford waded into the Intracoastal Waterway where he was eventually apprehended by deputies from the Marine & Environmental Lands Unit. Between the PCSO and the Clearwater Police Department, Lunford amassed 31 total charges: Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Property Damage (12), DUI with Property Damage (11), Fleeing and Alluding (3), Carjacking (2), Attempted Carjacking (1), Resisting an Officer with Violence (1) and Robbery by Sudden Snatching (1). Thankfully, no one was seriously injured.

Posted by Pinellas County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, March 8, 2022

[Source: News Channel 8/Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Facebook]

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