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Officer Slightly Injured By Hit And Run Driver

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By CARLOS MONCADA | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 1, 2007

Updated: 12/01/2007 11:34 am

ST. PETERSBURG - A police officer was injured by a hit-and-run driver while dispersing a large crowd that had gathered at a food store early this morning, St. Petersburg police reported.

The incident happened about 2:20 a.m. at the Food Max Store, 1400 18th Ave. S. Police said late-night crowds have been gathered at the store on Fridays and Saturdays for the past few weeks.

The patrol officer who was injured was clearing traffic from the area of 18th Avenue South when he was struck by a white Cadillac that had accelerated toward him, police said. The officer was knocked onto the car's hood and rolled off onto the pavement. He fired one round from his handgun before the Cadillac fled the scene, police said.

The officer, Brian Burton, 23, was treated at a local hospital for bumps and bruises and released, police spokesman Bill Proffitt said in a statement. It was unclear whether anyone in the Cadillac was injured.

Police later spotted the Cadillac and tried to conduct a traffic stop, although the car did not stop.

Police pursued it to the area of 20th Avenue South and 30th Street South, where the occupants fled on foot.

A Pinellas County Sheriff's Office helicopter and St. Petersburg K-9 officers searched the area. They took one person into custody who was a passenger in the Cadillac. He was later released without charges and is considered a witness in the case. Police are withholding his name.

No bullet holes were found in the recovered Cadillac, Proffitt said. Investigators are still working to identify the driver and another passenger. There are no indications that they were injured, police said.
Police internal affairs are conducting an administrative investigation, which is standard procedure in an officer-involved shooting.

Reporter Carlos Moncada can be reached at (727) 451-2333 or cmoncada@tampatrib.com.

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