A traffic stop in Hillsborough County escalated into a dangerous and chaotic incident on Wednesday afternoon when a convicted felon fled from deputies with one officer still partially inside her vehicle, collided with a school bus transporting middle school students, and was ultimately apprehended with a pipe bomb and illegal drugs in her possession.
Deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a silver Kia Forte at approximately 4:36 p.m. on Hillsborough Avenue West, just west of Dale Mabry Highway North. After establishing probable cause to search the vehicle, deputies attempted to remove the driver, 54-year-old Tonnetta Evans, from the car.
Investigators determined that Evans refused to comply with their instructions. She placed the vehicle in drive and accelerated eastbound on Hillsborough Avenue West, dragging a deputy who remained partially inside the car.
Moments later, before they could initiate a pursuit, Evans crashed into a school bus carrying 41 students from Pierce Middle School, along with a driver and an aide. No occupants of the bus sustained injuries, and the bus sustained only minor damage. The students were transferred to another bus and transported home.
Deputies subsequently located Evans and took her into custody at the southbound Interstate 275 ramp near Howard and Armenia avenues.
A search of the Kia,which had been reported stolen in Kentucky in 2022,revealed an explosive pipe bomb, brass knuckles, a stun gun, a bandolier loaded with shotgun shells, and counterfeit $100 bills totaling $1,100. Deputies also discovered methamphetamine, marijuana, several prescription pills, silver coins, and multiple credit cards and identification cards belonging to other individuals.
“This suspect showed a complete disregard for the safety of our deputy, other motorists and the children of our community, and we are extremely fortunate that no one was seriously hurt,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “Thanks to the quick actions of our deputies, a dangerous career criminal who was driving around with a pipe bomb in her car is now off our streets.”
Evans, an 11-time convicted felon with prior convictions in Indiana and Kentucky for burglary, escape, identity theft, and drug possession, faces numerous new charges. These include aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon, armed trafficking or possession charges, fleeing to elude, leaving the scene of a crash involving a school bus, tampering with evidence, and multiple weapons and identity theft counts.
She was additionally booked on an outstanding warrant from Kentucky for failure to appear on drug and identity theft charges. Sheriff’s officials confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing.
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