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On March 03, 2024 at 2:34 am, while southbound on I-275 (I-4) near Bird Street in the City of Tampa, Hillsborough County, I observed a white Chevrolet Camaro and a black Chevrolet Camaro enter the highway ahead of me at high rates of speed. I activated my in-car camera and accelerated to catch up. I used my patrol car calibrated speedometer and pace-clocked the vehicles at 90 mph in a posted 55 mph zone. Both Camaros were driving aggressively by speeding, tailgating, and changing lanes around other motorists. The white Camaro was ahead most of the time and appeared to be the more aggressive vehicle. While southbound, I got caught behind other vehicles but was able to catch up and finally get behind it. We continued southbound on I-275 into the junction of I-4, which contained blind curves and limited shoulder space. This was not a suitable area to conduct a traffic stop. During my entire time observing the white Camaro, I noticed it weave in its lane side to side and also cross over lane lines several times. This gave me concern about the condition of the driver, and given the time of day and its aggressiveness, I suspected impairment may be a factor.
Upon initiation of the traffic stop, the white Camaro accelerated rapidly and fled southbound on I-275 at milepost 43. The Camaro’s speeds went from 80 mph, down to 60 mph when my lights and sirens activated, and then increased to 140 mph as it fled.
The pursuit continued southbound on I-275 across the Howard Frankland Bridge toward Pinellas County. Aviation units from the Tampa Police Department and Pinellas County Sheriffs Office were currently launching to assist. At 2:44 am, the pursuit entered Pinellas County near milepost 34. My patrol vehicle was at its maximum speed of 140 mph during the majority of the chase. On the straight-aways with minimal traffic, the Camaro started moving away from me, indicating it was traveling faster. I visually estimated its speed to be 150 mph. I advised dispatch to notify the FHP units posted at the Skyway Bridge of the pursuit heading their direction, knowing we could arrive there within minutes at such high speeds. It should be noted, during this incident FHP was preparing to close part of the Skyway Bridge for the Armed Forces 10K Marathon scheduled to kick-off in a few hours.
Knowing the length of time the pursuit had gone, the extreme speeds and recklessness of the driver, the extended distance it covered, and the need to end the pursuit before it reached the Skyway Bridge, I recognized the urgency to end it. Due to the slower speeds and turning maneuver of the Camaro, it became apparent I reached a suitable moment to terminate the pursuit with my patrol car. At 2:49 am, I continued southbound on 22nd Avenue N towards the vehicle and used the left front of my wrap-around push bumper to contact the left rear corner of the Camaro. This caused the Camaro to spin and its right two wheels collided with a street curb. Between the wheel damage and airbag deployment, the vehicle became disabled. I stopped my patrol car and observed two occupants exiting the vehicle.
I observed the driver exit the driver's seat, and he fled southbound on foot down 22nd Street N. The driver was a Black male wearing a red jacket with black and white checkered pants. I yelled loud commands to stop but the driver ran in full sprint away from me. I was able to catch the driver and took him into custody at 2:50 am. I identified the driver as Barnard Stokes Jr. by his Florida driver's license. During the foot chase, the passenger fled the scene in an unknown direction.
While interacting with Stokes on scene, I observed his eyes were bloodshot and watery and he emitted a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage from his breath as he spoke.
At 4:06 am, I transported Stokes to the Pinellas County Jail. While outside the Central Breath Testing building, I asked Stokes for a sample of his breath to determine its alcoholic content. Stokes was hesitant and wanted to know what the penalties were if he did not provide it. I read Stokes the implied consent warning for breath from my agency issued card. This occurred my in-car recorded video while we were both seated in my patrol car. At 4:24 am, Stokes acknowledged understanding of the adverse consequences and advised he would accept the penalties and license suspension by refusing.
During the records check, I discovered Stokes’ license was suspended. I also discovered he had nine prior convictions for Driving While License Suspended, making this incident a tenth violation. Stokes also had two prior fleeing to elude charges, making this incident a third violation.
Stokes was booked with the following charges:
- Driving Under the Influence (Refusal)
- Driving While License Suspended: 3rd or Subsequent
- Fleeing to Elude at High Speed
- Resisting an Officer Without Violence