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Mall Detour Doesn't Stop Driver's Trip To Pinellas Jail

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TBO.com

Published: August 6, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - A man who led deputies on a high-speed chase Wednesday night through St. Petersburg crashed his car near the entrance of Tyrone Square Mall, then ran inside to hide, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said.

Cantez Caldwell, 31, who wasn't wearing shoes when he fled, went to a store called Golden Fashion, where he took a pair of sneakers, shorts, a shirt and a baseball cap in an attempt to disguise himself, deputies said.

According to the Tyrone Square Mall Web site, Golden Fashion sells women's clothing.

Even wearing a new outfit, deputies spotted Caldwell in a crowd and arrested him on charges of aggravated fleeing and eluding, driving with a suspended license, leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, retail theft, possession of marijuana, reckless driving and failure to register a motor vehicle.

According to a sheriff's office news release, the incident started about 7:30 p.m. when motorists reported a reckless driver near 71st Street and 46th Avenue. When deputies tried to stop the car, it sped off east on Tyrone Boulevard.

Deputies lost sight of the tan 1993 Ford Taurus until it was spotted at the 68th Street entrance of the mall. The car had crashed into a concrete light pole.

No one was hurt during the pursuit on the roads or in the mall, deputies said.

Caldwell, of 2505 18th St. S., St. Petersburg, was taken to Pinellas County Jail. Booking information was not immediately available.

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