St. Pete: 2 teens arrested in carjacking

ST. PETERSBURG - Two 16-year-olds, including one who claimed to be in the third grade, were arrested after carjacking a 60-year-old man and then trying to flee from police Thursday afternoon, authorities said. At one point, a car stolen by the youths rammed into a police cruiser.

Maurice Gant, who claimed to be in the third grade, was arrested on charges that included attempted felony murder of a law enforcement officer, residential burglary and carjacking. Dealte Franklin, a ninth grader at Boca Ciega High, was arrested on a charge of residential burglary, police said.

Police say the two teenagers approached Lloyd Fellenz, 60, at his home at 925 Live Oak Terrace NE, and asked for directions to downtown St. Petersburg. They then hit Fellenz on the head, and drove away in his silver 2007 Nissan Maxima and another car.

An officer with the Street Crimes unit later saw the Maxima at 22nd Avenue S and 34th Street. A pursuit soon began, and a Pinellas Sheriff's Office helicopter assisted.

Finally, the Maxima rammed into a cruiser driven by a St. Petersburg police sergeant, who was not seriously injured. The two youths then ran into a home at 4051 13th Avenue S, where they were arrested.

- Abhi Raghunathan, Times Staff Writer