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Deputies: Fleeing Duo Crash Into St. Pete Police Cruiser

News Channel 8 photo by RUGENE MOORE

Near First Avenue South and 31st Street South, a suspect ran into a patrol cruiser driven by Officer Robert Leoce, authorities said.

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TBO.com

Published: November 6, 2008

A car occupied by two men fleeing Pinellas deputies crashed into a St. Petersburg police cruiser on patrol Wednesday night, authorities said.

Deputies saw Rashaad Phillips, of 3746 12th Ave. S., driving a Monte Carlo recklessly in St. Petersburg about 11:30 p.m., according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies said they tried to stop Phillips after his vehicle ran a stop sign near 34th Street North and 50th Avenue North, but Phillips ran at least two more stop signs. Near First Avenue South and 31st Street South, Phillips ran into a patrol cruiser driven by Officer Robert Leoce, authorities said.

Phillips, 21, and his passenger, Paul D. Patrick, 19, of 3921 10th Ave. S., St. Petersburg, then got out of the car and ran, authorities said. They were caught not too far from the scene.

No one was seriously injured.

Authorities said they found a loaded, .45-caliber handgun in the back of the Monte Carlo that belonged to Patrick.

Leoce later went to Ed White Hospital in St. Petersburg for minor injuries.

Phillips faces charges of aggravated fleeing and eluding, leaving the scene of an accident with injuries and driving with a suspended license.

Patrick faces charges of resisting arrest without violence and two counts of a felon in possession of a firearm.

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