Woman with meth, pipe bomb bolts from deputies, hits school bus full of kids

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TAMPA, Fla. - A 54-year-old 11-time convicted felon was arrested Wednesday after dragging a deputy during a traffic stop and crashing into a school bus carrying 41 students, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies stopped Tonnetta Evans, 54, in a silver Kia Forte at 4:36 p.m. Wednesday on Hillsborough Avenue West, just west of Dale Mabry Highway North. When deputies tried to remove Evans after developing probable cause to search the car, she put the vehicle in drive and sped away eastbound with a deputy partially inside, officials said.

Evans immediately struck a school bus carrying 41 Pierce Middle School students, a bus driver and a bus aide before a pursuit could begin, according to investigators. The collision caused minor damage, and no students were injured before being transferred to another bus to go home.

Deputies captured Evans at the Howard Avenue and Armenia Avenue ramp to southbound Interstate 275. Authorities have not said why Evans had a pipe bomb, brass knuckles, a TASER, a bandolier of shotgun shells, prescription pills, marijuana and methamphetamine inside her car.

Investigators also found five stolen credit and identification cards, $1,100 in counterfeit $1,000 bills and silver coins in the car, which was reported stolen out of Kentucky in 2022, according to the sheriff's office.

Evans now faces multiple local charges, including aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, armed possession of methamphetamine and hit-and-run involving a school bus.

Categories: Police

Tags: Florida police