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Detective Cleared In Shooting Of Suspect

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 16, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - An undercover detective was justified in using his firearm when he got into a gunbattle with one of three robbery suspects in April, a shooting review board ruled Monday.

The name of the detective, who works for the St. Petersburg Police Department's Special Investigations Unit, was not released because of the undercover nature of his work.

On April 30 at about 8 p.m., the detective was part of a team keeping three robbery suspects under surveillance, according to a police memorandum released by Police Chief Chuck Harmon.

The team followed the trio - identified as Danielle Karlau, Joseph Hollings and Velislav Matzov - as the three drove to a Blockbuster video store at 5100 66th St. N., the memorandum says.

Karlau, who was driving, parked the car while Hollings and Matzov went in wearing masks and armed with handguns, the memorandum says.

As the pair robbed the video store, detectives took Karlau into custody, then waited for the other two to exit the store, the memorandum says.

As Hollings and Matzov "abruptly" came out of the store through a side door instead of the front, the detective identified himself as a police officer and ordered them to drop their weapons, the memorandum says.

Matzov fired at the detective who then fired back, the memorandum says. Hollings did not fire his weapon and ran off, but was apprehended, the memorandum says.

Matzov was shot in the hip and was treated, St. Petersburg police spokesman Bill Proffitt said. Matzov is in Pinellas County Jail awaiting trial in several robberies. Karlau and Hollings are also there awaiting trial.

The undercover detective was shot in the abdomen and underwent several surgeries, Proffitt said. His recovery is ongoing and he has not returned to work, the spokesman said.

"It was recognized that the Special Investigations Unit frequently operates in high-risk situations that develop quickly," Harmon's memorandum says.

"The Unit performed admirably in adjusting to the situation, communicating with each other, neutralizing the escape route and containing the situation," Harmon wrote.

"It is unfortunate that a suspect chose to engage the police in the manner he did," Harmon wrote. "The apprehension of these suspects and subsequent criminal investigations resulted in the closure of several violent crimes and prevented the commission of others."

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com.

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