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Tampa Police Stop Sticks Worked, But Bystanders' Car Struck

News Channel 8 image by ANTHONY ALLRED

Police investigate at the scene of the crash.

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By Josh Poltilove and Chris Echegaray of The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 13, 2007

TAMPA - Police-deployed stop sticks led a man officers were pursuing Wednesday night to lose control of a stolen vehicle and crash into a Toyota on Himes Avenue, authorities say.

Armando Suarez, 27, of Tampa was arrested after leading police on a chase in a stolen 2007 Ford Focus, ramming patrol cars, running red lights and then striking the 1997 Toyota, police said. Suarez was taken to Tampa General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The Toyota's passengers, Greg Guagliardo and his wife and daughter, Michelle and Lauren, were sore today but not seriously injured.

When told by The Tampa Tribune that Suarez's criminal arrest affidavit says stop sticks led Suarez to crash into his vehicle, Greg Guagliardo, who was the driver, said the use of stop sticks had put lives in danger. Guagliardo said chunks of metal wound up near his 4-year-old daughter's car seat after the crash and that if she had been hit by debris, she could have been killed.

"I know the police need to do what they need to do," he said. "But I'm totally at a loss. I feel somebody needs to be responsible for this. … It's not right."

Officers can use stop sticks to end a pursuit as long as there are no innocent people around who might step on them or drive over them, Cpl. Jared Douds said. Officers or their supervisors decide when to use them.

There was nothing about Wednesday's events, Douds said, that would lead officers to implement immediate policy changes. But police always review policies, he said.

On Wednesday night, officers saw the Ford had a paper license tag, police said. After running the number, it came back stolen. They attempted to stop the car on Deleuil Avenue and 30th Street by activating their emergency lights and boxing in the driver.

Suarez rammed two patrol cars, police said. The pursuit continued for several minutes, and Suarez ran several red lights, according to a criminal arrest affidavit.

The chase ended at 9 p.m. after an officer deployed the sticks and Suarez crashed into the Toyota. Suarez's vehicle was disabled, so he ran.

Guagliardo checked on his wife and daughter. They were OK, so he helped officers catch Suarez.

"I saw he got out and tried to run through the parking lot," said Guagliardo, 42, of Tampa. "My door wouldn't open. I crawled out my window and ran over to him, and I got there when the cops did."

Douds said Guagliardo's actions were impressive.

"We definitely have to give this individual so much credit for helping us take this person down," Douds said. "For him to be in a situation like this, many people might freeze up. … We just can't thank him enough."

Himes was closed for several hours.

Suarez, of 9029 Tree Valley Circle, was charged with auto theft, two counts of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and aggravated fleeing to elude, police said.

He faces an additional felony count of leaving the scene of a crash with injury and misdemeanor counts of obstructing or opposing an officer without violence, reckless driving, petty theft and driving with a suspended license, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Web site.

He was in Orient Road Jail, with bail set at $50,250.

Guagliardo and one officer had minor injuries. The officer's name wasn't immediately available, Douds said.

"I tell ya, it's just unbelievable," said Greg Guagliardo's father, Dick Guagliardo, who arrived at the scene after the crash. "Thank Jesus, my family's OK."

A more complete report on the arrest is unlikely to be available before next week, Douds said.

Reporter Chris Echegaray can be reached at cechegaray@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7920. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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