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Apollo Beach, FL - A high-speed police pursuit ended in the arrest of a 20-year-old suspect who exceeded speeds of 130 mph across Polk and Hillsborough counties.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, troopers observed a Volkswagen sedan traveling at 119 mph in a 70 mph zone along I-4 near Milepost 35 in Polk County on Friday night.
The vehicle was also observed displaying reckless driving behaviors.
Efforts by troopers to initiate a traffic stop were met with resistance as the Volkswagen accelerated and attempted to evade capture, even turning off its headlights during the chase.
The pursuit continued into Hillsborough County, where speeds exceeded 130 mph.
The chase persisted until the driver, identified as John Dylan Butler of Apollo Beach, took an exit at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
The chase reached its conclusion when the Volkswagen's tires suffered damage, causing the suspect to halt the vehicle at the intersection of East Lake Avenue and North 34th Street.
Upon apprehending Butler, law enforcement discovered 886 oxycodone pills, drug paraphernalia, and a significant amount of marijuana inside of Butler's vehicle.
Butler was transported to Polk County Jail on charges of fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, and multiple felony drug-related offenses.