ST. PETERSBURG, FL —A vehicle reported stolen from the area of North Wabash Avenue and West Magnolia Street in Lakeland was recovered late Thursday night after a Florida Highway Patrol trooper used a PIT maneuver to end a pursuit on Interstate 275 in St. Petersburg.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the vehicle was stolen from the Lakeland area, while details surrounding the pursuit and arrest were provided by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The incident began at approximately 11:16p on September 3, 2026, when the Tampa Police Department notified FHP that a green Dodge Challenger had fled from officers. The vehicle was reported stolen, and Tampa Police aviation was monitoring it from overhead as it traveled southbound on I-275 near mile marker 45.
Troopers from Hillsborough and Pinellas counties responded to the area. An FHP trooper located the Challenger near mile marker 32 and followed it as the driver exited onto 22nd Avenue North.
According to FHP, the trooper activated emergency lights and a siren in an attempt to conduct a traffic stop. The driver allegedly accelerated away, ran a red light and entered northbound I-275.
The trooper caught up with the Challenger and performed a PIT maneuver, bringing the pursuit to an immediate end. The vehicle slid into a guardrail at a low speed, and no airbags deployed.
The driver, identified by FHP as 19-year-old Kalany Cecile Hillmon of Wimauma, was taken into custody without further incident and ultimately booked into the Pinellas County Jail.
FHP said Hillmon claimed she was pregnant, although troopers noted they had nothing at the scene to confirm the claim. EMS responded as a precaution, and Hillmon was transported to BayCare for medical clearance.
Hillmon was charged by FHP with aggravated fleeing to elude and an offense related to the stolen vehicle. Tampa Police is expected to file additional charges, according to the arrest affidavit. Nothing further at this time.
SOURCE: FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL & POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
