
Inset: Johnathan Porubcan (Hillsborough County Jail). Background: Porubcan, in the pickup truck, allegedly sideswiped a car while fleeing cops near Tampa, Fla. (Florida Highway Patrol).
A Florida man allegedly led cops on a high-speed chase that reached speeds of 100 mph while he sideswiped another car and nearly rammed a police cruiser.
Johnathan Porubcan, 38, faces charges of aggravated assault, aggravated fleeing and eluding and false imprisonment.
The incident began around 10:30 p.m. Thursday when troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol spotted Porubcan driving his Ford F-150 at 91 mph on I-75 in the Tampa area, a probable cause arrest affidavit said.
Troopers began pursuing the truck and tried to pull Porubcan over, but he allegedly kept driving. Porubcan then allegedly exited the highway and reached speeds of 100 mph as he ran multiple red lights and drove the wrong way.
The pursuit continued as he drove south on U.S. 41 where he sideswiped one vehicle, video posted by troopers showed. Cops tried to perform two PIT maneuvers, but they were unsuccessful. At one point, Porubcan allegedly tried to ram the police cruiser.
Eventually, the suspect allegedly crashed the truck into a ditch because it was too damaged to make a turn. Porubcan got out and ran, cops said. Troopers say they found Porubcan hiding in the grass nearby and arrested him.
According to the affidavit, a passenger in the truck begged Porubcan to stop and let her out, but he kept driving.
"I got this," he allegedly told her.
Cops believe Porubcan was intoxicated, noting that he was sweating heavily and had vomited.
Porubcan allegedly admitted to taking three shots of whiskey mixed with Coke and smoking marijuana earlier in the day. He complained of rib and wrist pain, so cops took him to the hospital. Troopers attempted to administer a field sobriety test, but he apparently refused to open his eyes or stand up.
"My f—ing ribs are broken, I'm not sitting up," he said, per cops.
The defendant also allegedly refused to give a blood sample.
"F— you," he told the trooper, according to the affidavit. "Why would I give you s—?"
Porubcan remains at the Hillsborough County Jail without bond. His next court date is not listed.
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