The Brief
Four people were arrested early Saturday after a high-speed chase connected to a Tampa street takeover, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Troopers say the driver, 21-year-old Nathan Welch, exceeded 100 mph, ran red lights and fled a traffic stop near Hillsborough and Lois avenues.
Welch faces fleeing, unlawful street racing, false imprisonment and drug charges, while his three passengers were charged with unlawful street racing.
TAMPA, Fla. – Four people were arrested after a vehicle led troopers on a high-speed chase tied to a Tampa street takeover shortly after midnight Saturday, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The backstory
FHP says the driver, Nathan Welch, 21, did not stop when a trooper tried to make a traffic stop near Hillsborough and Lois avenues. Investigators say Hunter accelerated to speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour in 45-mph zones, ran multiple red lights and drove recklessly while trying to avoid law enforcement.
Troopers say Madison Nicholson, 18; Summer Simpson, 18; and Quamari Thomas, 19, were passengers in the vehicle. The group was participating in a street takeover event, according to FHP.
Dig deeper
During the pursuit, investigators say Welch refused to listen to one of the passengers, who asked multiple times to be let out of the vehicle.
Hunter, of St. Petersburg, faces the following charges:
Possession of cannabis sativa resin
Unlawful street racing on a highway
Thomas, Nicholson and Simpson, all from St. Pete, were booked on a charge of unlawful street racing on a highway.
The Source
Information for this story was provided by the Florida Highway Patrol.