A 51-year-old St. Petersburg man is accused of hitting a Florida Highway Patrol trooper and a patrol vehicle with a stolen Jeep after a late-night chase through eastern Hillsborough County. Troopers say the driver tore through farm fields and into a chain-link fence before the pursuit finally ended in Brandon. Authorities booked the suspect into the Hillsborough County Jail and say multiple felony charges are pending.
How troopers say the chase unfolded
According to FOX 13 Tampa Bay, the Florida Highway Patrol says the incident began shortly after 11 p.m. Friday when a trooper assisted the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office with a stolen vehicle near U.S. 92 and Tanner Road in Tampa. Aviation units tracked an orange Jeep to the area of Jerry Smith Road and Blankenship Road near Turkey Creek, and a trooper attempted a stop shortly before 11:30 p.m. Troopers say the driver refused to exit the Jeep, a Taser only partially connected, and the vehicle was then put in reverse and struck the trooper and his patrol car.
Where it ended and what troopers found
Per the Florida Highway Patrol, the chase continued into Brandon and ended near Lumsden Road and Durant Road after the Jeep drove over a median and troopers took the driver into custody. Troopers said a search of the vehicle uncovered drug paraphernalia, including a crack pipe, and the driver, identified as Shawn Creager, told officers he was "freaking out" and admitted he was high on cocaine. Troopers also said Creager showed multiple signs of impairment during field sobriety tests and later refused a urine test.
Charges and booking
Creager was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail on charges that include fleeing to elude at a high speed, DUI, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon, resisting an officer with violence, criminal mischief of $1,000 or more, refusal to submit to testing, driving with a canceled or suspended license, and trespassing on commercial agricultural property. The Jeep was reported stolen, and the vehicle's registered owner told troopers she did not give Creager permission to use it and wanted to press charges. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is handling the stolen-vehicle and paraphernalia counts; booking records are available via the Hillsborough County jail roster.
What happens next
Creager remains in custody pending prosecution, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Authorities have not released additional details about any injuries to the trooper, and prosecutors will decide whether to file additional or upgraded charges as the investigation continues.
