Misc. Cases II

[Lady Cop]

News13
TREASURE ISLAND Fla.
Deputies from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office shot and killed a man they say sexually battered and impregnated an 11-year-old girl.

The man, 42-year-old Gregory Johns, was killed at the Trail's End Motel and Apartments at 11500 Gulf Boulevard in Treasure Island around 5 a.m. Saturday.

According to Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, Johns has a lengthy violent criminal history and sexually battered the girl three times.

Gualtieri said Johns lived with the girl and her mother and, on August 27 at Morton Plant Meese Countryside Hospital, they learned she was pregnant.

Upon learning the news, Johns left the hospital to go to his car and was not seen again.

Deputies received a tip from St. Petersburg Police that Johns had used a knife to rob a couple at Vinoy Park later that week.

St. Petersburg Police said, on or around the 29^th, he broke into a 78-year-old woman's home, tied her up and held her for 12 hours.

On that same day, Johns called the 11-year-old girl's mother, apologized for his actions and said officers were going to have to kill him before he returned to jail.

Gualtieri said Johns was in jail ten times since 1987 on aggravated assault, armed robbery, burglary and drug charges.

Saturday morning, law enforcement received a tip that Johns was located in a beach motel somewhere between the Madeira Beach Causeway and Central Avenue.

Dozens of officers combed the area, planning on making the Trail's End their last stop.

When deputies learned Johns was at the hotel, they isolated it and heard noises from inside.

Gualtieri said when Johns would not come out, officers went in the room.

He said Johns then burst out of the bathroom with a knife, saying he was going to kill them.

Deputies Eric Turner and Claudio Dimundo each fired approximately five rounds, killing Johns.

The deputies will go on paid administrative leave as they investigation continues.

Deputies say the Johns first raped the girl in June, asking her to come to his bedroom while her mother was at work.

Johns was five feet-nine inches tall and weighed 280 pounds.