Two 19-year-olds are facing charges after they fled from Tampa police officers and threw a gun out of their vehicle during a pursuit, officials say.
The Florida Highway Patrol responded to a request from TPD to help locate an Infiniti sedan that fled from officers as the department’s aviation team was tracking the vehicle on State Road 589, heading towards Pasco County.
At around 12:45 a.m. Sunday, troopers were able to find the Infiniti in the area of County Road 524 and Ridge Road, where they say a handgun was seen being thrown out the rear right window of the vehicle.
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FHP then was able to pull the Infiniti over for a traffic stop and detain four people inside the vehicle. The gun was located along with an extended magazine and several rounds of ammunition.
The driver, Amir Jones of Clearwater, was arrested on a charge for having a suspended license. His passenger, David Rivera of Tarpon Springs, was arrested on charges for throwing out the gun. Two other passengers were released without charges.
FHP says Tampa police later responded to the traffic stop and will be filing charges of fleeing to elude for when the Infiniti fled them earlier.