A 56-year-old man is in custody after officers say he shot at vehicles and fled the streets of Pinellas County beach towns Monday afternoon.
Ronald Giovino, of Clearwater, faces multiple charges related to fleeing police and firing a gun in public, according to a news release from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said the incident began when the Treasure Island Police Department responded to 9641 Gulf Boulevard for a domestic call, police said. When officers arrived, Giovino fired several shots at the cars and then dropped the gun as he fled from officers in his Mercedes coupe, officers said.
Two Pinellas deputies listened to Treasure Island police radio traffic and saw Giovino near Gulf Boulevard and Captive Circle in St. Pete Beach. Deputies attempted to stop Giovino but he drove south on Gulf Boulevard and deputies began a pursuit.
While driving north on 66th Street, Giovino veered into a median, struck a traffic signal near Burlington Avenue, causing the signal to hit a passing car. Giovino then swerved sharply to the left to avoid hitting a Toyota Camry, troopers said.
When Giovino swerved to avoid the Camry, Deputy Louis Neal III, 25, who was following Giovino, struck the Camry with his squad car.
The chase continued down Pasadena Avenue and then west to the Treasure Island Causeway. A deputy conducted a precision immobilization technique, or PIT maneuver, to stop the Mercedes, which then crashed into another car and a fence at 7923 Causeway Blvd. S. The Mercedes stopped and deputies arrested Giovino.
Giovino was treated at a hospital, released and taken to the Pinellas County Jail.
He is charged with aggravated fleeing and eluding, reckless driving with property damage, felony DUI, violation of probation on a DUI charge and resisting an officer without violence. More charges are pending, deputies said.
Neal was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries and released.
