A Fort Myers man is facing four felony charges after Florida Highway Patrol troopers say he led them on a scooter chase through busy Lee County streets before ditching the scooter near a golf course, where troopers found a stolen handgun. Gregory Michael Griffin was booked into the Lee County Jail following the pursuit Wednesday, which also turned up three outstanding felony warrants against him.
According to WINK News, a state trooper first spotted the scooter traveling 59 mph in a 40 mph zone along State Road 82 near Ford Street. When the trooper attempted a traffic stop near Ortiz Avenue, the rider allegedly accelerated to 65 mph instead of pulling over, according to FHP.
Troopers said the rider then split lanes between other vehicles, ran a red light, and blew through a stop sign as the chase continued. The rider ultimately fled into a neighborhood off West End Court, per the same account.
Scooter Abandoned Near Golf Course, Gun Found Inside
Troopers eventually located the abandoned scooter near a golf course by Putte Lane and Jordan Avenue. There, they also recovered a stolen Ruger handgun, the station's report notes. The rider had already taken off on foot by the time troopers reached the scene, but authorities located the suspect shortly after and identified him as Griffin, who was then arrested.
Griffin now faces charges of fleeing to elude, being a habitual traffic offender, possession of a stolen gun, and possession of a firearm during a felony. He also faces additional charges for reckless driving, operating without a motorcycle endorsement, driving under the influence, DUI refusal, and drug paraphernalia, per the same account.
Prior Fleeing and Weapons Charges Carry Steep Penalties
Florida's fleeing and eluding law was updated under CS/CS/HB 113 to increase penalties for certain fleeing-and-eluding offenses, according to the Law Office of W.F. Casey Ebsary Jr. Separately, carrying a concealed firearm while committing or attempting to commit a felony is its own second-degree felony under Florida Statute § 790.07, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and fines as high as $10,000, per the Sammis Law Firm.
A firearm theft charge also carries independent weight. Under Florida Statute § 812.014(2)(c)5, theft of a firearm is automatically charged as grand theft, a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison, regardless of the gun's monetary value, according to The Law Offices of Robert David Malove.
Habitual Offender Status and DUI Refusal Add Exposure
The habitual traffic offender designation Griffin faces stems from a driver accumulating three qualifying major convictions, such as fleeing, DUI, or driving while suspended, or 15 moving violations within five years, triggering a mandatory five-year license revocation under Florida Statute § 322.264, per The Florida Senate. The DUI refusal charge adds its own separate consequences: refusing a chemical breath or urine test after a lawful DUI arrest triggers an automatic one-year administrative license suspension for a first refusal, while a second or subsequent refusal is a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail, according to the Florida Law Enforcement Liaison Program.
Griffin's no-motorcycle-endorsement charge hinges on the scooter's engine size. Motor scooters exceeding 50 cubic centimeters require a full motorcycle endorsement on a Florida driver's license, while scooters under 50cc need only a valid Class E license, per the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
A Familiar Stretch of Road for FHP Patrols
State Road 82 near Ortiz Avenue is a major arterial corridor that local police and Florida Highway Patrol troopers heavily target for speeding, street racing, and aggressive driving, according to Gulf Coast News. Florida Highway Patrol Troop F, headquartered in Fort Myers, holds state jurisdiction over Lee County and Southwest Florida and regularly conducts targeted enforcement on corridors like this one.
This is not the first time a Lee County pursuit has ended with unusual circumstances. In September 2024, troopers pursued an 18-year-old driver who reached speeds over 100 mph on Cape Coral Parkway before a PIT maneuver ended the chase. And Lee County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested a robbery suspect who attempted to evade capture on a tricycle near Orange River Boulevard.
