5 St. Pete Teens' Crime Spree Ends In Polk County: Authorities

POLK COUNTY, FL — Five St. Petersburg teenagers face multiple felony charges after deputies accused them of driving a stolen vehicle from Pinellas County into Polk County, and taking a gun out of a man's truck in Davenport Friday, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.

Just before 2:20 p.m., the teens parked a black Dodge Ram near another truck on Aberdeen Avenue in Davenport. The suspect who sat in the passenger seat went into the other truck and took a Glock 9mm handgun from the center console, authorities said. Shortly after, police stopped the Ram on Ronald Reagan Parkway westbound. When the Ram stopped, a backseat passenger, 17-year-old Jackeiron Allen, ran away. The driver and the three other suspects stayed, and they were arrested on armed burglary and other charges, investigators said.

Tyger Woods, 18, is who authorities accused of stealing the gun, but the gun was with Allen when he ran off. While Allen was on the run, he went into a construction zone and tried to carjack a vehicle. The owner of the vehicle, pulled Allen out of it, and then Allen pointed the gun at the victim. Following that brief moment, the suspect ran and jumped over a fence. Allen was seen running through the parking lot of a nearby fire station by one of the firefighters who told him to stop. Workers from the construction site and the carjacking victim yelled, "He's got a gun," as he began fumbling with something in his hoodie pocket. Out of fear, the firefighter went inside the station.

Allen was later arrested that day by canine team Deputy Sheriff Amber Ludlow and K-9 Bonez.

“I am sick and tired of juvenile suspects being treated with kid gloves," Sheriff Grady Judd said. "Here are five more examples of what happens when you don't hold suspects accountable. During their most recent crime spree, they stole a truck, and then a gun, tried to carjack someone, and almost shot a firefighter. Our message is clear—if you come to Polk County to victimize our citizens, we will put you in jail and do everything in our power to ensure you are held accountable, regardless of your age.”

Judd referred to the suspects' criminal history in St. Petersburg that showed that numerous charges had been dropped on their arrest records in Pinellas County.

Authorities also found marijuana inside the stolen truck.

The five suspects of St. Petersburg face the following charges, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office:

Tyger Woods, 18:

• Armed burglary
• Grand theft of a motor vehicle
• Grand theft of a firearm
• Conspiracy to commit burglary
• 4 counts contributing to the delinquency of a minor
• Possession of marijuana
• Possession of paraphernalia

Jakeiron Allen, 17:

• Armed burglary
• Aggravated assault on a firefighter
• Attempted carjacking
• Grand theft of a motor vehicle
• Grand theft of a firearm
• Conspiracy to commit burglary
• 4 counts contributing to the delinquency of a minor
• Violation of probation
• 4 counts resisting arrest
• Possession of marijuana
• Possession of paraphernalia

Jayvion McLaurin, 16:

• Armed burglary
• Grand theft of a motor vehicle
• Conspiracy to commit burglary
• Possession of marijuana
• Possession of paraphernalia

Michael Owens, 15:

• Armed burglary
• Grand theft of a motor vehicle
• Conspiracy to commit burglary
• Possession of marijuana
• Possession of paraphernalia

Lonnie Mozell, 16:

• Armed burglary
• Grand theft of a motor vehicle
• Conspiracy to commit burglary
• Possession of marijuana
• Possession of paraphernalia

*Patch does include the names of minors when they face felony charges.