Tampa police chase, Taser unregistered sex offender

TAMPA — A 50-year-old sex offender on probation for sexual battery was chased, shot with a Taser and arrested after an officer discovered he had not updated his his driver's license address.

About 9 p.m. Tuesday, Officer Ron Paulk was checking for new sex offenders who moved into his patrol zone when he came across David Lovette, at 2318 N Whittier St.

Paulk found that Lovette's license had an outdated address, violating his probation. So he tried to arrest him, but Lovette ran. Paulk followed, calling for backup.

Police said Lovette refused to stop, and one officer shot him with a Taser. He was arrested on charges of failure to register as a sex offender, resisting arrest without violence and violating probation. Lovette was not injured, police said. He was being held in jail with no bail.

Last year, Tampa police checked on 2,416 sex offenders and arrested 199 on similar charges, many with outstanding warrants, said Tampa police spokeswoman Janelle McGregor.