TAMPA, Fla. – A high-speed pursuit involving a vehicle traveling without a tag ended early Friday morning on an I-75 entrance ramp with the arrest of a 16-year-old driver and the discovery of a loaded handgun.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), a trooper observed a Honda Civic traveling eastbound on Fowler Avenue near Raintree Boulevard around 2:17 AM. The vehicle reportedly had no license plate and was clocked traveling at 77 MPH in a posted 50 MPH zone.
The trooper attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver of the Civic refused to pull over and continued eastbound on Fowler Avenue. The pursuit continued until the driver entered the entrance ramp to I-75.
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At that point, the FHP trooper successfully performed a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver, safely bringing the pursuit to an end.
The driver was taken into custody following the stop. Authorities identified him as a 16-year-old male from Spring Hill. During a search of the vehicle, troopers located a loaded Glock 9 mm handgun.
The teen was arrested and faces multiple charges, including Flee to Elude – High Speed, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Possession of a Firearm by a Minor, No Driver’s License, and Operation of an Unregistered Motor Vehicle.
The driver was transported to a juvenile detention facility following his arrest.
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