A predawn high-speed chase on Interstate 75 in Hillsborough County ended with an abandoned car, a stash of guns including a stolen AR-15, and a big bag of marijuana, while several suspects managed to get away on foot early Wednesday.
According to state troopers, the pursuit kicked off when they clocked a speeding vehicle near mile marker 250 and followed it south toward the State Road 674 and U.S. 301 interchange. Troopers used a PIT maneuver to stop the car, but the people inside bailed out and ran.
How the chase unfolded
As reported by Tampa Free Press, troopers first spotted the vehicle heading southbound near mile marker 250 around 3:00 a.m. on June 3. They pursued it off the interstate and down State Road 674, then used a pursuit intervention technique near U.S. Highway 301 to force the vehicle to a stop.
Several male occupants jumped out and fled into the dark, leaving the car behind. A search of the vehicle turned up two pistols, an AR-15-style rifle and a gallon-sized Ziploc bag of marijuana. Investigators later determined that one of the firearms in the car had been reported stolen.
Weapons and potential charges
Under Florida law, theft of a firearm is treated as grand theft and can be charged as a felony, with penalties that depend on the circumstances and the value of the property, according to Florida Statutes. Possession of recently stolen property can also open the door to enhanced charges if prosecutors can show a suspect knew the item was stolen or intended to commit a crime with it.
I-75 remains a focus for troopers
The stop is the latest in a run of interdictions and pursuits on I-75, a major north-south artery where troopers frequently target suspected drug and weapons trafficking. Local reporting has spotlighted other recent I-75 chases in Hillsborough County that ended with guns or drugs seized, underscoring why troopers rely on PIT maneuvers and similar tactics in these cases, as noted in earlier coverage by Tampa felon busted after 103 mph I-75 chase.
FHP seeks tips from the public
The Florida Highway Patrol is asking anyone who might recognize or know anything about the fleeing suspects to call *FHP (*347) or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers, according to Tampa Free Press. Troopers say the investigation is ongoing as they work to track down the people who ran from the car.
