Armed Robbery Suspect Leads Police On Chase Through North Tampa

TAMPA, FL -- Tampa Police have arrested two men for armed robbery following a pursuit throughout North Tampa Wednesday, Sept. 26.

Tampa Police received a call about a reckless driver who was waving a gun out the window as he drove on Fowler Avenue near 50th Street.

At 2:14 p.m., police spotted the vehicle turning south on McKinley Drive from East Fowler Avenue and attempted to stop it. The driver stopped momentarily, jumped out of the vehicle and began yelling that he had a gun, according to police. He then got back in the vehicle and drove away.

At the same time, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office issued an alert about an armed robbery at the Sunoco gas station at 11931 U.S. 301 N. The description of the vehicle and tag number matched the vehicle and Tampa Police were pursuing.

Tampa Police continued to follow the vehicle for a few minutes. Then it slowed down and a passenger bailed out of the vehicle at East River Hills Drive and North Orange View Avenue. The driver continued to wave the gun out of the window as he drove on, hitting a Chevy Camaro near 46th Street and Busch Boulevard, a Toyota van near Hillsborough and Nebraska avenues, a mailbox in the 4200 block of East River Hills Drive and a street sign in the roundabout at North 40th and East Yukon streets.

Finally, the driver struck a stop sign and retaining wall at North Central Avenue and East Genesee Street before coming to a stop.

The passenger who bailed out and the driver were taken to the sheriff's District II office to be interviewed. The sheriff's office hasn't released the names of the two men yet.

Image via Tampa Police

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