St. Pete Man Arrested After Pursuit, Allegedly Hitting Trooper in Hillsborough County
A St. Petersburg man is facing multiple charges after fleeing from law enforcement in a stolen vehicle and allegedly hitting a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) trooper during a late-night pursuit through eastern Hillsborough County on February 21, 2026. Shawn Creager, 51, is currently held at the Falkenburg Road Jail on a $36,300 bond, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Details of the Pursuit
The incident began around 11:20 p.m. When the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office requested FHP assistance with a stolen vehicle that deputies were pursuing. The vehicle was tracked by the HCSO aviation unit to a strawberry field in the Dover area. When a trooper attempted to initiate contact with the driver, Creager allegedly fled in the Jeep, intentionally driving through at least one fence, according to FHP.
According to an arrest affidavit reviewed by 10 Tampa Bay News, a trooper stated that Creager backed his vehicle into the trooper’s patrol car during the initial encounter, knocking the trooper to the ground.
Troopers intercepted the vehicle on Northwood Park Street, south of Durant Road. Creager continued fleeing west on Durant Road, with two troopers in pursuit. He then ran over the median on Durant Road approaching Lumsden Road and became stuck while attempting to cross it again. A trooper then used their patrol car to block Creager from further movement, bringing the pursuit to an finish.
Charges Filed
Shawn Creager is facing charges including resisting an officer with violence, criminal mischief, driving under the influence, refusal to submit to testing, fleeing to elude at a high speed, driving without a valid driver’s license, and trespass. One trooper is requesting a charge of battery on a law enforcement officer.
Troop C Jurisdiction
The Florida Highway Patrol Troop C, which responded to this incident, covers seven counties along the Gulf Coast of Florida: Sumter, Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Polk, Pasco, and Pinellas. Troop C Headquarters is located in Tampa and is divided into five districts: Tampa, Lakeland, Land O Lakes, Brooksville, and Pinellas Park. The Tampa and Pinellas Park districts cover Hillsborough County and Pinellas County.
Recent FHP Activity in Hillsborough County
This incident follows a separate hit-and-run collision that occurred on February 22, 2026, in Dover, where a pedestrian was critically injured. Florida Highway Patrol troopers are currently searching for the driver of a red 2017-2019 model Ford F250 or F350 in connection with that incident.