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Hernando Deputies Arrest 3 Teens Accused of Pinellas Car Theft

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Two of the teens admitted to stealing a car and to about 30 vehicle burglaries in Pinellas County, according to the Hernando Sheriff’s Office. They were caught after a chase that began in Pinellas County.

HERNANDO COUNTY – Three teens who fled from Pinellas deputies in a stolen car were captured in Hernando, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said.

Padre Mustipher, 14, of Largo, was charged with grand theft auto. Ronshauwn Davis, 12, from St. Petersburg, and Robert Thompson, 16, from Largo, were each charged with principal to grand theft auto. Mustipher and Davis were released to their parents. Thompson was taken to the Department of Juvenile Justice in Ocala.

The New Port Richey Police Department will follow up with charges of reckless endangerment to the public and fleeing to elude charges, Hernando deputies said. Hernando deputies will coordinate with Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office detectives regarding the original grand theft auto investigation.

Hernando deputies became involved in the case on Sunday (July 30) when a vehicle pursuit entered the on Commercial Way (U.S. 19) from the south. Officers from the New Port Richey Police
Department were pursuing a 2017 Chevrolet Cruze, reported stolen in Pinellas County. Three of the four tires on the Chevrolet had been deflated by Pinellas deputies, when the driver fled from them in Pinellas County.

Hernando deputies did not take part in the pursuit, but closed intersections along Commercial Way in Spring Hill to ensure that drivers did not travel into the path of the fleeing vehicle.

When the pursuit approached the intersection of Commercial Way and Forest Oaks Boulevard, officers from the New Port Richey Police Department stopped pursuing the car. After the marked patrol cars turned around to head back to New Port Richey, the driver of the stolen car stopped and abandoned the it near Commercial Way and River Country Drive. Deputies said the tires
and wheels on the stolen Chevrolet were severely crippled because it had been driven from Palm Harbor with three punctured tires.

As Hernando deputies arrived at the abandoned car, they said three boys fleeing on foot. Davis and Thompson were immediately caught. Both the Hernando sheriff and Brooksville Police Department used K9s to try to track down two other boys but were unsuccessful. Hernando deputies continued searching and provided residents and business owners with a description of the others.

A short time later, the HCSO received a call from a business near Commercial Way and Northcliffe Boulevard saying someone matching the description of one suspect was in the area. Deputies came and arrested Mustipher.

Deputies said Mustipher lied to them about how he got to Spring Hill, but Davis and Thompson eventually became cooperative and confessed.

Davis and Thompson told Deputy William Cooper that Mustipher had driven the stolen car. Deputies said the two told Cooper that they had all met at a park in St. Petersburg before going to steal cars.

Deputies said Davis and Thompson also admitted to committing about 30 vehicle burglaries before leaving Pinellas County. They also provided identification on a fourth suspect who was with them in the stolen car.

For information about the Hernando sheriff, go to hernandosheriff.org.

Hernando Sheriff | Crime | Arrests | Auto Theft | Car Theft | Tampa Bay News | TB Reporter

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