Published on Monday, March 13, 2006
in the Tampa Tribune

FHP Airplane Nabs Motorcyclist

Patrick Plowman's 2005 Suzuki sport bike outran a Florida Highway Patrol vehicle, but it couldn't elude an agency airplane.

Plowman, 22, of 7126 Seaward Drive, New Port Richey, was arrested in Hernando County on Monday morning after he fled from a trooper on Interstate 75 in Pasco County, a highway patrol report said.

Unbeknownst to Plowman, the highway patrol was clocking speeders from an agency airplane on I-75, north of State Road 52, when he was clocked traveling 95 mph in a 70 mph zone.

Trooper Larry Kraus tried to stop Plowman, who was traveling northbound, but Plowman accelerated and fled. The agency's airplane, piloted by Sgt. Mike Cendan, continued the pursuit. The report said Plowman was seen cutting in and out of traffic, improperly passing vehicles and traveling more than 100 mph.

Plowman exited I-75 at State Road 50 in Hernando and drove to Hi-Tech Trucking, 6179 Nature Coast Blvd., just west of I-75, where troopers arrested him in the parking lot.

Plowman, who was charged with aggravated fleeing to elude a law enforcement officer, reckless driving and driving with a suspended license, was being held at the Hernando County Jail on Monday with bail set at $13,000.

The highway patrol also seized his motorcycle.