TAMPA, Fla. — A St. Petersburg man is facing charges after leading authorities on a high-speed chase in Tampa, reaching a rate as high as 147 mph, according to Florida Highway Patrol.
In a new arrest affidavit, an FHP trooper followed a black Dodge Charger traveling somewhere over 110 mph in a 60 mph zone at around 11:20 a.m. Monday off of I-275, west of State Road 688. The driver was reportedly cutting through all lanes of traffic.
"The driver was operating the vehicle in a willful or wanton disregard for the motoring public," the affidavit stated.
The trooper says they caught up with the car and drove their patrol car on the left side of it. They saw a man, later identified as 22-year-old Tayvion Robinson, in the driver seat.
Robinson was allegedly accompanied by a woman on the passenger side, another man and another woman both in the back seat of the Charger. The officer then turned on their emergency lights and sirens to begin a traffic stop.
According to the arrest report, FHP told the Tampa Bay Regional Communication Center to hold traffic as the pursuit began.
Robinson continued traveling around 130 mph going north on I-275 while continuing to make evasive maneuvers, cutting through traffic and using the left shoulder to pass other vehicles. He eventually reached an excess speed of 147 mph.
FHP says Robinson eventually exited onto Mile Marker 40B, going south on South Lois Avenue in Tampa. He reportedly sped past a steady red light.
Robinson abruptly slowed down after seeing a vehicle pass a box truck that was stopped on the northbound travel lane by using the southbound travel lane. He attempted to squeeze between the box truck and the other vehicle, where he collided with both of them.
The FHP then attempted to perform a PIT maneuver, making Robinson's car come to a final stop on South Lois Avenue and West Estrella Street.
Both Robinson and the other male passenger left the car and attempted to flee the scene, FHP says.
After a perimeter was set around the area, authorities eventually found Robinson hiding inside a garbage can in the area of Henderson Boulevard. He was arrested and brought back to the scene.
Robinson faces several charges including reckless driving, fleeing to elude high speed, and two counts of violation of probation. He also was charged for not having a valid driver's license.
