A 21-year-old man was arrested Sunday after Florida Highway Patrol troopers shut down a high-speed pursuit that started on I-75 and ended on the southbound U.S. 301 ramp in Tampa. Authorities say the gray Volkswagen hit about 103 mph before a trooper used a PIT maneuver to spin it out, and troopers later reported finding a loaded handgun and what tested positive as fentanyl inside the car. The driver, identified as Justice Powell, was taken into custody without incident. Powell, a convicted felon who was released from prison on Nov. 14, 2025, was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail on multiple charges, according to the arrest report.
Chase Cut Short On Busy US 301 Ramp
According to WFLA, a trooper first spotted a gray Volkswagen quickly moving in the middle lane of northbound I-75 when the driver switched off the headlights and kept going. Radar from the trooper's vehicle clocked the car at 103 mph, investigators said. The pursuit continued into the I-75 and U.S. 301 interchange area, where troopers used a PIT maneuver to bring the Volkswagen to a stop on the southbound ramp. Troopers say the suspect surrendered on the ramp and was taken into custody without further incident.
Gun And Fentanyl Seized From Volkswagen
After the stop, police searched the car and, according to the arrest paperwork, found “a Glock 23 .40 caliber handgun on the passenger side rear floorboard,” loaded with an extended 20-round magazine and one round in the chamber. They also reported recovering a prescription bottle containing a purple powder that field tests identified as about 3.8 grams of fentanyl. Those details and the list of charges were drawn from the Florida Highway Patrol arrest report, as reported by WFLA.
Felony Counts Stack Up After Arrest
The FHP arrest report states that Powell was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail on charges that include felon in possession of controlled substances, felon in possession of a firearm, reckless driving, aggravated fleeing to elude and driving without a valid license. Each of those alleged offenses can carry serious penalties if prosecutors decide to formally file the counts. Florida law bars convicted felons from possessing firearms and allows for substantial prison time upon conviction. According to the arrest report, investigators plan to submit the case file to the State Attorney’s Office for final charging decisions.
I-75 Remains A Hot Spot For Trafficking Busts
I-75 is a major north-south corridor where troopers routinely target suspected drug and contraband trafficking, and the Tampa pursuit comes on the heels of other big stops in recent weeks. Earlier this month, FHP troopers said a K-9-led traffic stop pulled an RV from I-75 and turned up more than 2,000 pounds of marijuana, according to reporting by FOX 13 Tampa Bay. Troopers say efforts like these aim to cut off dangerous activity along the highway while still limiting pursuits that could put the public at risk.
The Florida Highway Patrol continues to investigate Sunday’s stop, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is holding Powell while prosecutors review the case. Upcoming court filings and updated jail records are expected to show the next steps in how the charges move forward.
