A Pinellas Park man and a homeless man have been arrested in connection with the crimes, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said.

PINELLAS COUNTY – A carjacking Thursday (May 24) in the unincorporated Lealman area ended with a crash in Madeira Beach and two men in jail, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said.

Robert Gajate, 30, a homeless man, was charged with one count each of armed carjacking, grand theft auto, felon in possession of a firearm, reckless driving with property damage, leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, and driving while license suspended or revoked. Deputies said Gajate told them he had been released from prison April 9 on a charge of grand theft auto.

George A. Olson, 25, of Pinellas Park, was charged with one count each of felon in possession of firearm and possession of a controlled substance (crack cocaine).

Christian Jensen, 52,was working as a car salesman at Crown Mitsubishi, 5500 34th St. N, when he agreed to take a man on a test drive in a maroon 2012 Cadillac CTS. Deputies said that, during the test drive, the man pointed a handgun at Jensen and ordered him to get out of the car near the intersection of 54th Avenue N and 37 Street in the unincorporated Lealman area. Jensen got out of the car and watched as the man drove off in the Cadillac, westbound on 54th Avenue N. Jensen was not injured.

Deputies responded and were searching the area for the stolen car when citizens reported a red Cadillac driving recklessly on Gulf Boulevard in Madeira Beach.

A deputy in his cruiser traveling northbound on Gulf Boulevard saw the stolen Cadillac driving recklessly. The Cadillac passed the deputy southbound on Gulf Boulevard, driving aggressively and speeding. When the deputy made a U-turn he lost sight of the vehicle.

Minutes later, deputies were notified of a crash involving a Cadillac that struck a palm tree near 14048 Gulf Blvd. in Madeira Beach. When deputies arrived, witnesses told them that two men had gotten out of the Cadillac and fled on foot.

Deputies caught Gajate near the crash scene. Deputies said witnesses positively identified Gajate as the driver and man who stole the Cadillac.

Treasure Island police officers found the passenger, Olson. Deputies said Olson was in possession of crack cocaine and a handgun that was identified as the gun used in the carjacking. Deputies said the gun had been reported stolen in Pinellas County in 2003.

Deputies said Gajate admitted stealing the Cadillac and picking Olson up afterwards.

Photo shows George A. Olson, left, and Robert Gajate.

Pinellas Sheriff | Crime | Carjacking | Arrests | Traffic Crash | Tampabay News

Pinellas Sheriff | Crime | Carjacking | Arrests | Traffic Crash | Tampabay News