Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
-Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF)

Michael Todd Amons Jr. (Injured Driver - Arrested)
DOB: 10/09/1990
Address: 1751 ½ 27^th Avenue North, St. Petersburg
Vehicle: 2012 Acura
Charges: One count of Trafficking in Cocaine, one count of Trafficking in MDMA, Possession of Hydromorphone, Possession of Marijuana and Reckless Driving.

What:
Deputies assigned to the Violent Crimes Task Force have arrested a man for multiple drug charges after he was seen driving recklessly and crashed a car into a St. Petersburg home.

When:
A deputy tried to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle at about 2:30 a.m. on March 1, 2018.

The vehicle crashed at about 2:52 a.m. on March 1, 2018.

Where:
Deputies initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle near the intersection of 71^st Street North and 54^th Avenue North.

The suspect crashed into a residence located at 5301 10^th Street North.

Why/How:
Deputies assigned to the Violent Crimes Task Force have arrested a man for multiple drug charges after he was seen driving recklessly and crashed a car into a St. Petersburg home.

According to deputies, at about 2:30 a.m. on March 1, 2018, a patrol deputy tried to initiate a traffic stop on a dark colored 2012 Acura for a traffic violation on 71^st Street near 54^th Avenue North.

Deputies say the driver of the Acura refused to stop for the deputy and drove northbound in a reckless manner, “blacking out” by turning off the headlights. The deputy did not pursue the vehicle and eventually lost sight of the vehicle.

Members of the Violent Crimes Task Force were notified of the Acura that fled from the traffic stop. VCTF members were working in the Pinellas Park area when they observed a vehicle matching the description of the Acura, driving recklessly eastbound on 70^th Ave North from 49^th St North.

VCTF members did not pursue the vehicle but conducted intermittent surveillance on the vehicle as the driver ran several red traffic lights, stop signs and at one point exceeded 100 miles an hour with no headlights on.

VCTF members say the Acura proceeded southbound along Haines Road and then eastbound on 54^th Avenue North.  The driver, later identified as 27-year-old Michael Amons, was traveling eastbound in a neighborhood on 53^rd Avenue North when he failed to negotiate a turn at 10^th Street North and lost control of the vehicle. The Acura left the roadway and crashed into a residence located at 5301 10^th Street North.

The crash caused significant structure damage to the home; however, the five occupants inside the home were not injured. 

Amons, the only occupant inside the Acura, was treated by paramedics at the scene and was transported to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg for non-life threatening injuries.

Deputies say they found a significant amount of narcotics inside the Acura along with a large sum of U.S. currency.

Deputies charged Amons with one count of Trafficking in Cocaine, one count of Trafficking in MDMA, Possession of Hydromorphone, Possession of Marijuana and Reckless Driving.

The St. Petersburg Police Department has additional criminal charges pending against Amon.

Amons will be transported to the Pinellas County Jail once he is released from the hospital.

The Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF) 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.

No booking photo was available for Amons at the time of this news release.