By Danny Valentine and Kameel Stanley, Times Staff Writers
Friday, November 26, 2010
ST. PETERSBURG — A Pinellas County Sheriff's deputy shot a man who appeared to try and hit him after a traffic stop Friday, according to a witness.
The incident began shortly after noon at Fourth Street and 86th Avenue N, where the deputy tried to pull over Brandon Elliot French, 25, of St. Petersburg.
It ended near the intersection of Fourth Street and 83rd Avenue N, where the shooting occurred.
Late Friday afternoon, deputies were still trying to determine all the actions French made with the black Ford Explorer in between the traffic stop and the shooting, said sheriff's spokeswoman Marianne Pasha.
Mike Winkler, 22, said he saw the SUV speed down an alley parallel to Fourth Street moments before the shooting.
He saw the driver turn left in between a pizza shop and a bar and try to pull back onto Fourth Street near 83rd Avenue, near a Mobil gas station. Winkler said the driver nearly hit the deputy, who was standing by his cruiser.
"He was headed right at the cop," Winkler said.
The deputy fired three rounds into the Explorer, hitting the driver, a witness said.
The deputy, 11-year-veteran Kenneth Kimberlin, has been relieved of his duties with pay while the investigation is underway, which is a routine practice after deputies are involved in a shooting.
French was transported to Bayfront Medical Center and was in stable condition with a left shoulder wound.
Authorities have not said what led the deputy to attempt the traffic stop in the first place.
A check of state records shows that French's license was canceled in June. His complete driving record was unavailable on Friday, but county records show he's had several traffic infractions, including leaving the scene of an accident with damage, reckless driving, driving under the influence, speeding and driving on a suspended or revoked license.
