Temple Terrace police say they were alerted to the burglary because of a hit and run crash at a clothing store.

TEMPLE TERRACE – A Tampa man was accused of burglary in Temple Terrace during the state of emergency caused by the approach of Hurricane Irma, according to the Temple Terrace Police Department.

Jonathan Maurice Smalls, 31, of Tampa, was charged with one count each of fleeing and attempting to elude police, resisting an officer without violence, providing a false name to a law enforcement officer, possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis, no valid drivers license, and reckless driving. He was also charged with two counts each of grand theft using a motor vehicle and burglary using a motor vehicle. All were committed during a state of emergency, police said.

Police said they caught him when they were called to a a hit and run crash at the DTLR Clothing Store, 9233 N 56th St., about 1:43 a.m. today (Sept. 10).

The initial report said that a vehicle had struck the building and fled. When police arrived, they said they learned that the vehicle, a dark colored pickup truck had smashed through the front of the store and the driver had stolen a large quantity of clothing.

Police immediately found the pickup traveling west on Busch Boulevard and tried to conduct a traffic stop. The driver refused to stop. A short distance later, police said, the driver lost control and crashed into a street sign on 40th Street near Seward Street.

The driver got out of the pickup and ran away. After a brief foot chase, Smalls was caught. Additional investigation revealed that the pickup truck was stolen. Police said the back of the truck contained stolen clothing from DTLR and stolen shoes from Shoe Mountain on Fowler Avenue in Tampa.

For information about the Temple Terrace Police Department, go to templeterrace.com.

Temple Terrace Police | Hurricane Irma | Crime | Burglary | Arrests | Tampabay News | TB Reporter

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