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In Tampa, Florida, an 18-year-old found himself in handcuffs after leading troopers on a high-speed chase across a local highway early Thursday morning.
The incident began when a Florida Highway Patrol officer was monitoring traffic around 2:50 a.m. on Interstate 4 near Mile Marker 3. The officer spotted a white Nissan speeding at 85 mph in a zone restricted to 55 mph.
As the officer approached the vehicle, the Nissan abruptly cut off another car and exited at Orient Road, close to Mile Marker 6.
With sirens blaring and emergency lights flashing, the trooper initiated a pursuit, according to the FHP.
The driver, however, continued to evade, reportedly ignoring red lights while re-entering eastbound I-4 and subsequently merging onto southbound I-75.
As the trooper got close to perform a PIT maneuver, FHP says several people put their hands out of the passenger windows.
The driver then turned onto the right shoulder, stopped in the grass, and ran from the scene.
Troopers later found the suspect, identified as Steven J Lazaro-Ocampo, 18, running in the bushes along the side of I-75.
According to arrest papers, Lazaro-Ocampo said he had “taken a pill and did not feel well.”
When a trooper asked him what he had taken, Lazaro-Ocampo allegedly said he was “stoned on Percocet and had smoked marijuana.”
Five passengers exited the vehicle and followed troopers’ commands. All five reportedly told troopers they were begging Lazaro-Ocampo to pull over and let them out, but would not.
One passenger recorded the incident on his cell phone and showed it to troopers, arrest papers said.
In the video, the passengers were heard yelling at Lazaro-Ocampo to pull over and let them out, but he ignored them and continued fleeing from law enforcement, troopers said.
Troopers said Lazaro-Ocampo also had an active arrest warrant for robbery out of Polk County and had previously fled troopers on Jan. 11.
According to arrest papers, Lazaro-Ocampo told troopers he did not know about the warrant. When asked about his history, Lazaro-Ocampo said he had done “time in Polk County and had just gotten out four months ago.”
Lazaro-Ocampo was charged with aggravated flee to elude, five counts of false imprisonment, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (Promethazine Hydrochloride), and resisting without violence.
There was no contact between the cars, no damage to the patrol car, and no reported injuries.