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Detective Shot In St. Petersburg; 3 Suspects Arrested

News Channel 8 photo by INDIRA LEVINE

An undercover St. Petersburg police detective was shot late Monday night at an Exxon station at 3061 First Ave. N.

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TBO.com

Published: January 26, 2009

Updated: 01/27/2009 05:49 am

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James Allen Seay

Shaheed Amad Wright

Desmond John Creary

ST. PETERSBURG - Three Pinellas County teenagers are in custody this morning, charged with the attempted murder of a police officer.

The teenagers are identified as 18-year old James Allen Seay, of 5313 21st Ave. S., Gulfport; 16-year-old Shaheed Amad Wright, of 4425 15th Ave. S., St. Petersburg; and 17-year-old Desmond John Creary, of 4644 15th Ave. S., St. Petersburg.

Two on-duty detectives with the St. Petersburg Police Department's special investigations unit saw the teenagers acting suspiciously near First Avenue North and 31st Street North about 10:20 p.m. Monday and called for backup to help them keep the teenagers under surveillance, police spokesman Bill Proffitt said.

Two patrol units and a canine unit responded. The two detectives watched the teenagers leave their bicycles in the 3000 block of the alley between Central Avenue and First Avenue North and walk toward the Suncoast Exxon gas station, 3061 First Ave. N., Proffitt said.

Two of the teenagers robbed the Exxon station and the third acted as a lookout, police said. One of them was armed with a handgun, police said. After the robbery, the three ran back to the alley where they had left their bicycles, police said.

A detective caught Desmond John Creary in the alley behind the office of Dunn & Dunn, Attorneys at Law, 3021 Central Ave. That's when Seay approached the detective and fired several rounds from a midsized caliber, semi-automatic handgun, striking him multiple times in the upper and lower body, police said. The detective returned fire, but none of the teens was injured.

The teens ran south between buildings to Central Avenue, where they were arrested by officers. Seay received a minor dog bite from the police dog during his arrest and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Police said they found Seay's semi-automatic handgun at the scene, along with a bandana and ski mask used in the robbery.

The detective who was shot was rushed to Bayfront Medical Center, where he had surgery this morning. He is listed in serious but stable condition, Proffitt said.

The officer is not being identified because of his undercover status. He is 41 years old and has been with the St. Petersburg Police Department for 19 years, Proffitt said.

The three suspects are charged with attempted murder of a law enforcement officer and armed robbery.

Police said it's too soon to tell whether the suspects have been involved with other recent robberies in the area.

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