PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – A Clearwater man has been arrested after leading law enforcement officers on a chase where a deputy was injured.
On July 17, 2023, at approximately 1:46 p.m., the Treasure Island Police Department responded to 9641 Gulf Boulevard in Treasure Island about a domestic shooting.
According to Treasure Island Police Department, when officers arrived on the scene, 56-year-old Ronald Giovino fired multiple gunshots at vehicles and dropped the gun as he began to flee from officers in his dark-colored Mercedes 300.
After hearing the police radio traffic from the Treasure Island Police Department, two Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office deputies observed Giovino in the area of Gulf Boulevard and Captive Circle in St. Pete Beach and attempted to stop him. Giovino fled southbound on Gulf Boulevard, and the deputies initiated a vehicle pursuit.
Giovino continued driving recklessly through Pasadena and St. Petersburg.
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While traveling north on 66th Street, Giovino veered into a grass median, striking a traffic sign near Burlington Avenue and 66th Street North in St.
Petersburg and the traffic sign struck a passing vehicle. After striking the traffic sign, Giovino made a sharp left turn to avoid striking a 2022 Toyota Camry. When Giovino turned to avoid the Camry, Deputy Neal III, who was following Giovino, struck the Camry with his patrol vehicle. According to deputies, no citizens in the other vehicles were seriously injured.
Deputies say the pursuit of the suspect continued back down Pasadena and west onto the Treasure Island Causeway. A deputy conducted a PIT maneuver in the 7900 block of the Treasure Island Causeway. Giovino struck another vehicle prior to striking a vinyl fence at 7923 Causeway Boulevard South. Giovino’s vehicle was immobilized and Giovino was taken into custody.
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The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office charged Giovino with one count of Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding, one count of Reckless Driving with Property Damage, one count of Felony DUI, one count of Violation of Probation- DUI, and one count of Resisting an Officer without Violence. Additional criminal charges are pending from the Treasure Island Police Department.
Giovino was treated and released from the hospital and was then transported to the Pinellas County Jail.
Deputy Neal III was transported to the hospital and was treated and released with minor injuries.
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