FHP Successfully Apprehends Fleeing Driver in HillsboroughA 54-year-old man, identified as Ross Jones, was apprehended in Hillsborough County following a pursuit by a Florida Highway Patrol trooper that ended in a crash into a power pole early Thursday morning.
Troopers attempted to pull over Jones on US 98 and Griffin Road in Lakeland for driving without tail lights and failing to maintain lanes. Ignoring the signal to stop, Jones accelerated, leading FHP on a chase.
The pursuit included running at least two red lights and reaching speeds of up to 123 miles per hour on I-4 towards Hillsborough County.
In an attempt to stop the fleeing driver, the trooper executed a PIT maneuver, causing Jones’s vehicle to go off the road and collide with a power pole. The fallen pole damaged a nearby business.
Jones, after exiting his disabled vehicle, attempted to flee on foot. During the pursuit, he dropped a handgun, which was noticed by the trooper. The trooper then aimed their gun at Jones, prompting him to surrender and be handcuffed.
Jones was subsequently taken to Orient Road Jail in Hillsborough County, facing multiple charges, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, aggravated fleeing with damages, and driving with a suspended license.
According to TECO, the estimated cost of damages to the power pole is around $2,000. County Chase
