Car crash leads to armed kidnapping
ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - St. Petersburg police are looking for a teenager who crashed a car then kidnapped a man that stopped and offered assistance.
Around noon Friday, officers arrived to the corner of 4th Street North and 110th Avenue North where two car had collided.
Initial reports indicate a 15 to18 year-old male suspect was driving more than 100 MPH when he slammed into another car that had entered the intersection.
Police say the suspect got out of the car and stumbled to the shoulder where he tried climbing over a fence while bleeding from his head and covered in blood.
Around that time a Good Samaritan arrived and confronted the suspect.
"This citizen who is just trying to help out comes up and asks if he can be of assistance, and he immediately jumps in this guys car and demands that he be taken away from the scene and he shows a gun in his waistband.," St. Petersburg Police spokesperson Mike Puetz said.
Police say the suspect demanded the passerby drive him to a nearby apartment complex. Once they arrived, the suspect got out and ran off.
Police say he left a puddle of blood in the victim's vehicle which investigators will process for DNA evidence.
It's unclear why the victim waited about 30 minutes to call police, but once they arrived at the complex, the suspect was gone.
"We checked a couple vacant apartments in the building as well, but so far there's no sign of him. We do think he's left the area," Puetz said.
Investigators determined the suspect's car was rented by another woman, possibly a friend.
"We are in contact with the people that rented the car. They've been cooperative with us up to this point," Puetz said.
Officials put local hospitals on standby to look out for a teenager with a head wound seeking medical assistance.
The driver of the other car was treated and released from a hospital with a broken wrist and collarbone.
Police say, once arrested, the suspect will be responsible for the crash and will be charged with leaving the scene of a crash with injury and armed kidnapping.
Police released the following description of the suspect: a black male, 15 to 18 years of age, medium complexion, 5'10", 130 lbs, short hair and mustache, last seen wearing a black shirt and black pants. The suspect does have a visible head injury and is still considered armed.