Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
- Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT)
- Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF)

St. Petersburg Police Department

Clearwater Police Department

Deputy Guy Habercom (Driver- Injured)
Age: 29
Date of Hire: 02/08/2013
Vehicle: 2018 Toyota Camry

Deputy Justin Gould (Passenger- Injured)
Age: 40
Date of Hire: 11/28/2016
Vehicle: 2018 Toyota Camry

Officer Scott Cameron (Driver- Injured)
St. Petersburg Police Department
Vehicle: Unmarked 2011 Ford Crown Victoria

Dallas C. Speights (Driver- Injured)
DOB: 02/16/1999
Address: 1102 23^rd Street South, St. Petersburg
Vehicle: 2004 Ford Taurus

What:
Deputies assigned to the Major Accident Investigation Team are investigating a crash involving two Pinellas deputies, a St. Petersburg Police officer, and a citizen in St. Petersburg.

When:
The crash occurred at about 12:48 a.m. on Sunday, October 15, 2017.

Where:
The crash occurred near the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Street South and 26^th Avenue South in St. Petersburg.

Why/How:
Deputies assigned to the Major Accident Investigation Team are investigating a crash involving two Pinellas deputies, a St. Petersburg Police officer, and a citizen in St. Petersburg.

According to investigators, members of the Violent Crimes Task Force were conducting surveillance in the area of Martin Luther King Jr. Street South and 26^th Avenue South, searching for a vehicle that fled from them.

VCTF member Deputy Guy Habercom was driving a 2018 Toyota Camry with Deputy Justin Gould as his passenger. They were traveling southbound on Martin Luther King Jr. Street South in the median lane and had just crossed through the intersection of 26^th Avenue South with a green traffic light.

VCTF member and St. Petersburg Police Officer Scott Cameron was driving an unmarked 2011 Ford Crown Victoria, eastbound on 26^th Avenue South. As Officer Cameron was making a right southbound turn onto Martin Luther King Jr. Street South, his right front tire struck the curb causing him to lose control of the Crown Victoria.

Investigators say Officer Cameron’s Crown Victoria bounced off the west curb on Martin Luther King Jr. Street South and struck Deputy Habercom’s Camry. The force of the impact pushed Deputy Habercom’s Camry into the northbound median lane of Martin Luther King Jr. Street South, where the Camry struck a citizen’s vehicle traveling northbound, a 2004 Ford Taurus operated by 18-year-old Dallas Speights.

Speights and Officer Cameron were both transported by ambulance to Bayfront Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. Deputy Habercom and Deputy Gould were transported by deputies to Bayfront Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries.

Investigators say none of the vehicles were operating in emergency mode at the time of the crash.

The Violent Crimes Task Force is a county-wide, multi-jurisdictional task force that focuses on violent crime in Pinellas County. The task force is comprised of law enforcement officers from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, St. Petersburg Police Department and the Clearwater Police Department. 

The investigation continues.