A fuzzy white bunny helmet, a sport bike, and a late-night sprint up U.S. 19 ended in handcuffs for a Pasco County motorcyclist, according to state troopers. Investigators say the rider pushed speeds to about 120 mph, blew through heavy traffic and red lights, and crossed into neighboring Hernando County before finally giving up. Once the chase stopped, troopers say they found a handgun and booked the rider into the Pasco County jail.
The man behind the helmet, identified in police reports as 29-year-old Dalton Hubbert, now faces a stack of felony and traffic charges tied to the pursuit. Local troopers said the way he threaded through traffic put other drivers at risk throughout the chase.
How troopers say it started
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the whole thing kicked off on U.S. Highway 19 near Jessup Lane, where a trooper first spotted the motorcycle. The bike’s tag was flipped up into the wheel well so it could not be read. When the trooper hit the lights and siren for a traffic stop, the rider allegedly did the opposite of pulling over and accelerated away, weaving through traffic, according to Tampa Free Press.
120 mph chase into Hernando County
From there, troopers say the chase turned into a high-speed run northbound on U.S. 19. The motorcycle surged to roughly 120 mph and blew through multiple red lights as it headed out of Pasco County and into Hernando County, as reported by FOX 13 News.
The rider finally slowed down near Commercial Way in North Weeki Wachee and surrendered, according to the station. Troopers took Hubbert into custody just before 11:30 p.m., and photos from the Florida Highway Patrol show the bunny-helmeted rider being handcuffed on the roadside.
Arrest and charges
After the stop, troopers say a search turned up a handgun on the rider. Hubbert was taken back to Pasco County and booked into the county jail. He now faces charges that include felony fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, driving more than 50 miles per hour over the posted limit, and use or display of a weapon during the commission of a felony, according to Tampa Free Press.
What the charges mean
Under Florida law, fleeing and eluding is spelled out in Florida Statute §316.1935 and can be treated as a misdemeanor or an aggravated felony depending on the circumstances, per Florida Statutes. The state also created a specific crime of “dangerous excessive speeding” for driving 50 mph or more over the posted limit in §316.1922, found in Florida Statutes.
There is a separate weapons statute, §790.07, that can add felony exposure when a firearm is carried or displayed while another crime is being committed, according to Florida Statutes.
Photos and next steps
Photos distributed to local media by the Florida Highway Patrol show the fluffy white helmet that sparked the “bunny biker” nickname and were included in coverage of the arrest, according to FOX 13 News. Hubbert remains in custody, and the case is set to move through Pasco County courts; authorities had not released bail information or an arraignment date at the time of reporting.
