Mercedes Driver Arrested After Hitting School Bus, Cars in Largo

LARGO, FL — An eagle-eyed Pinellas Park Police officer is getting the credit for bringing a man into custody Tuesday afternoon following four accidents in Largo. The man reportedly even tried to run away on foot before his capture.

According to the Largo Police Department, its officers tried to stop a white Mercedes 250 in the area of 36th Street and Melody Lane near East Bay Drive around 2:45 p.m. Oct. 25. The Mercedes fled from the stop, heading eastbound on East Bay Drive, an email from the police department said.

While fleeing the scene, police say the Mercedes sideswiped a white car, breaking its side-view mirror, and a school bus, causing minor damage. No children were on the bus when the incident occurred.

“Officers immediately stopped following or trying to further affect a traffic stop,” the email said. At that point, the Mercedes took off south on Belcher Road.

In the area of Ulmerton Road and Belcher, police say the Mercedes struck two more vehicles before its driver got out and tried to run away on foot.

“A Pinellas Park Officer was in the area in his marked vehicle and observed the suspect trying to flee the scene on foot,” the email said. That officer managed to bring the man into custody, the Largo Police Department wrote.

The crashes forced the closing of roads in the area for a time, but they were all open and clear before rush hour, police said.

The man behind the Mercedes’ wheel has been identified as Shaquille Clemons, 21. He faces leaving the scene of a crash charges at present, but more charges are pending, police say. A motorist from one of the two Ulmerton Road crashes was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

No further information is available at this time. The Pinellas Park Officer who made the arrest has not been identified as of yet.

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