Grow house found at deputy-involved shooting scene

ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said it found marijuana plants growing at the home where a detective was involved in a shooting with a suspect.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said deputies went to the home in search of a suspect wanted for several crimes spanning more than a year's time. At the end of a short standoff, the suspect showed a 9mm gun and was then shot at by a detective.

The suspect and the detective were both unharmed in the incident and the suspect was arrested afterward.

Gualtieri said detectives have been after 26-year-old Xavier Williams for some time. The first of several arrest warrants were issued for Williams in Pinellas County in February 2015 for robbery and kidnapping. He was accused of using a gun to carjack and kidnap a victim.

In June 2016, PCSO said Violent Crimes Task Force agents found Williams driving a car which was reported stolen. Williams ran, but was caught and charged with aggravated fleeing and eluding, as well as possession of multiple kinds of drugs. 

PCSO said it later learned Pinellas Park police had probable cause to arrest Williams for domestic battery -strangulation and criminal mischief in relation to another incident. 

During a months-long Investigation, detectives were led to a home on Alcazar Way, which is where deputies said he was living with his father. He was also known to stay in area hotels. 

When deputies got to the home they set up perimeter and were told by Williams' father that Xavier was inside and knew law enforcement were looking for him. They used a loud speaker to ask him to come out. 

Meanwhile, Detective Chris Kramer was in the back yard and noticed a door opening form the kitchen. Williams came out in a low crawl to try and hide behind a low wall. Det. Kramer asked him to show his hands. 

PCSO said Williams complied, but was holding a 9mm handgun. Det. Kramer saw the gun and fired a shot, but the shot did not hit Williams.

The sheriff said Williams fell to the ground on top of the gun. Deputies came in and took Williams into custody. 

After getting the gun from Williams, PCSO found out it was stolen during an April residential burglary on 54th Ave S.

Williams' father was arrested for harboring a fugitive. When deputies went inside Williams' father's house, they found marijuana plants growing. Charges related to those plants had not been announced.