Hillsborough County drag racers arrested by troopers: FHP

TAMPA, Fla. – Florida Highway Patrol has busted an alleged attempted street takeover in the University District Tampa during the weekend.

FHP says Tampa Police received information about a planned street takeover in Tampa and responded to several locations on November 8.

Troopers found large groups of people and cars mingling on Busch Blvd. and Florida Ave., Winn Dixie, at Temple Terrace. Crowds of people and cars also gathered on Fletcher Ave. and Bruce B. Downs Blvd.

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The arrest ended in multiple chases captured on patrol car dashboard cameras.

The Troopers’ dash camera video shows them breaking up a group in a shopping plaza off Fletcher Ave. and Bruce B. Downs Blvd. as people run and several cars rush out of the parking lot.

“It’s very, very dangerous for the community, especially here where there are a lot of families with children,” said Norma King, who shops at that plaza.

Troopers chased one of those cars onto the main road and the trooper appeared to perform a PIT maneuver to stop it.

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Another chase ended in a Wawa parking lot when the officer appeared to hit the car’s rear bumper to stop it.

People shopping in that square say the situation could have been even more dangerous.

“And they shouldn’t be here because at the end of the day we have a university here,” said Melka Haliu, who shops in that square. “The roads are not meant for this.”

FHP says four drivers have been charged with felonies, and six passengers have been charged with street racing and takeover. FHP says the suspects are between 17 and 24 years old and are from Hillsborough District.

“So it’s not safe for the kids to be running around here, you know, doing what they’re doing,” King said. “And the chases, you know, the police chasing them, that just personally adds to the added danger.”

FHP says troopers stopped two other large groups at the Winn Dixie at Temple Terrace and Busch Blvd. and Florida A. before there was any street racing or dangerous driving.

“It ends up being someone’s life,” Haliu said.

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Fox 13 contacted TPD and FHP about the attempted street takeover.

FHP shared its pursuit policy, which includes the following guidelines:

When assessing the need to initiate a pursuit, the member must determine whether the suspect is actively fleeing and evading a law enforcement officer, or has previously committed a crime. Further, in determining the appropriateness, speed and extent of a pursuit, the member must exercise due care to ensure that its actions are objectively reasonable. In doing so, members will take the following into account:

1. The nature of the offense committed by the suspect, the potential danger to society if the suspect is not immediately arrested, and the possibility of the suspect’s arrest at a later date.
2. The existing traffic conditions, the road surface and width, the weather, the visibility, the prominence of the road, the type of area (i.e. urban, residential, rural, school area), the type of area you would encounter if the pursuit were to be continued, or any circumstance that could cause this. create additional dangers to traffic or the public.
3. The limitations and conditions of both the member and the patrol vehicle.
4. Members may not participate in pursuits under the following circumstances: The emergency equipment or radio is not functioning properly and an inmate(s) or person(s) in custody is(are) in their vehicle.

HP says no one was injured during these incidents.

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