Deputy Involved Shooting Leaves Safety Harbor Suspect Dead

Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies opened fire on a wanted suspect after the Safety Harbor man allegedly charged two deputies with a knife. The suspect is dead, according to a news release.

The deputy involved shooting occurred around 5:30 a.m. today (Sept. 1) at the Trails End Motel and Apartments in Treasure Island.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office had a warrant out for Gregory J. Johns' arrest, "for sexual battery on a child under 12." The victim was in Johns' care at the time of the alleged offense according to a news release.

The Crimes Against Children detectives of the sheriff's office began investigating the case on Aug. 28 after the 11-year-old sexual battery victim complained of stomach pains. The girl was taken to a local hospital late on Aug. 27 by her mother and the mother's live-in boyfriend who was Johns. At the hospital it was determined the girl was pregnant, according to a news release.

Detectives say the news of the girl's pregnancy made Johns "visibly upset." Then Johns asked the girl's mother for the car keys so he could get some cigarettes. Instead he left the hospital and did not return, authorities said.

During the sheriff's investigation detectives learned the suspect had allegedly sexually battered the child "on as many as three occasions" in June.

As detectives searched for Johns they learned early today that Johns was in a hotel on Gulf Boulevard between the Madeira Beach Causeway and Central Avenue in Treasure Island.

Deputies searched hotel-by-hotel and found Johns at the Trails End Motel in Treasure Island. Johns apparently did not comply with deputies' commands to exit the hotel room. So deputies used tools and made a forced entry into the room. Once deputies entered the room, Johns apparently locked himself in the bathroom, according to a news release.

Deputies were about to enter the hotel's bathroom when Johns allegedly charged the deputies with a knife. Deputies Claudio Dimundo and Eric Turner opened fire on the suspect. The supsect is dead, according to a news release.

The deputies involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave, as is standard procedure while an investigation is conducted.

The St. Petersburg Police were also looking for Johns on charges of armed robbery and false imprisonment of a 78-year-old woman on Aug. 28 and on the charge of robbery of couple in Vinoy Park on Aug. 29, according to a news release.

* Story updated 9/1 3:08 p.m. based on an updated press release from the sheriff's office.