Davis Islands Today

From Tampa Bay Newspapers

Motorist fleeing police destroys three parked cars
The predawn traffic stop of a Tampa man on June 28 resulted in the destruction of three vehicles parked in the driveway of a Clearwater woman’s home. Police allege that Walter Johnson, 48, of the Davis Islands section of Tampa lost control of his Chevrolet Camaro convertible while speeding away from a traffic stop and destroyed not only Ruth Knight’s 1993 teal Jeep, but also a maroon Jeep and red minivan belonging to her two sons, which were parked in her driveway near the intersection of South Crest Avenue and Druid Road.

After police received a complaint of a suspicious white convertible cruising through the neighborhood, Officer Mark Beaudette pulled Johnson over near the intersection of Missouri Avenue and Druid. Johnson said he was in the area to visit a sick friend and allegedly used the name of his brother, who didn’t have any arrest warrants. Beaudette was suspicious, but Johnson took off before he could check further.

Beaudette did not give chase but radioed ahead to another officer, who spotted the Camaro just before it crashed, about 10 blocks from the initial stop. Johnson was thrown from the car and was subsequently flown to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, where he was reported to be in serious condition.