What started as a routine traffic stop on I‑275 near Tampa International Airport ended with a taser deployment in one of Tampa’s busiest shopping hubs, after troopers say a Sarasota man refused to pull over and bolted toward International Plaza and Bay Street.
The Florida Highway Patrol identified the driver as 33‑year‑old Demarcus Wilder and says a loaded semi‑automatic handgun was recovered from his vehicle. No injuries were reported. Troopers took Wilder to the Hillsborough County Jail and opened a DUI investigation.
How the pursuit unfolded
Shortly before 5:30 p.m., a trooper attempted a traffic stop on northbound I‑275 near the exit for Tampa International Airport, but the driver kept going and continued onto State Road 60, according to the Florida Highway Patrol, as reported by tased after mall chase.
An off‑duty Pinellas County sheriff’s sergeant followed the vehicle to International Plaza and Bay Street. Troopers say Wilder ignored repeated commands to get on the ground in the parking lot. A trooper then deployed a taser and took him into custody. A search of the vehicle turned up a loaded firearm and additional ammunition, according to FHP.
Where it ended
The chase wrapped up at International Plaza and Bay Street, the large Westshore shopping complex at 2223 N. Westshore Blvd. adjacent to Tampa International Airport, according to the mall’s website. The center regularly draws both travelers and local shoppers, raising obvious public‑safety stakes when a pursuit spills into crowded parking areas.
Charges and legal implications
The Florida Highway Patrol says Wilder faces multiple charges, including fleeing and attempting to elude, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, DUI and resisting an officer without violence, per tased after mall chase.
Troopers told investigators Wilder showed signs of possible impairment, including bloodshot eyes, confusion and poor balance. Breath tests at the jail showed no alcohol, and a urine sample was requested after he refused a Drug Recognition Expert evaluation, according to FHP.
Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon is a felony under Florida law; Section 790.23 of the Florida Statutes generally classifies that offense as a second‑degree felony, according to the Florida Senate.
Wilder was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail, and FHP says the DUI investigation remains ongoing. Prosecutors will determine formal charges and any upcoming court dates. As with all criminal cases, the suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
