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·FHP applicant blows chances after leading police on wild motorcycle chase
By Ihosvani Rodriguez
Miami Bureau
Posted April 26 2005
Leading authorities on a racetrack-speed motorcycle chase and going the wrong way on the highway in rush-hour traffic is no way to impress a potential boss.
Authorities said David Carpenter, 24, was set to take his physical exam next week to be a Florida Highway Patrol trooper, but his dangerous habit of gunning his Honda 1000 motorcycle on the Florida Turnpike and fleeing from troopers likely put an end to his law enforcement aspirations.
"We told him don't bother showing up," said FHP spokesman Lt. Julio Pajon, after officers snared Carpenter on Monday. "Getting arrested is an automatic disqualifier."
For weeks, troopers and other authorities have seen Carpenter speeding through traffic at speeds of up to 140 mph. He managed to flee at least twice and almost caused two wrecks involving troopers, Pajon said.
At 8:30 a.m. Monday morning, however, the FHP waited for Carpenter using an airplane and troopers stationed strategically along the highway. Soon enough, Carpenter led troopers on a chase captured on surveillance camera. At one point during the pursuit, Carpenter headed south in the northbound lanes and later smashed the cycle's front rim by hurling over a curb to avoid a tollbooth, according to police reports.
Carpenter outraced the troopers on his bike, but an airplane shadowed him to his apartment in the 15500 block of 105th Lane in south Miami-Dade County. When troopers arrived moments later, they saw Carpenter standing outside pretending to wash his car.
Carpenter denied being the motorcyclist at first, but it appears his pooch gave him up.
The dog came up to a window, moved a vertical blind and barked at the troopers outside, a report said. A trooper peeked inside Carpenter's bedroom and saw the motorcycle.
Also inside the bedroom: Carpenter's application for the FHP.
Police charged Carpenter with three counts of aggravated fleeing, two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and one count of reckless driving. He also received a citation for bending back his license tag from plain sight.
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By Ihosvani Rodriguez
Miami Bureau
Posted April 26 2005
Leading authorities on a racetrack-speed motorcycle chase and going the wrong way on the highway in rush-hour traffic is no way to impress a potential boss.
Authorities said David Carpenter, 24, was set to take his physical exam next week to be a Florida Highway Patrol trooper, but his dangerous habit of gunning his Honda 1000 motorcycle on the Florida Turnpike and fleeing from troopers likely put an end to his law enforcement aspirations.
"We told him don't bother showing up," said FHP spokesman Lt. Julio Pajon, after officers snared Carpenter on Monday. "Getting arrested is an automatic disqualifier."
For weeks, troopers and other authorities have seen Carpenter speeding through traffic at speeds of up to 140 mph. He managed to flee at least twice and almost caused two wrecks involving troopers, Pajon said.
At 8:30 a.m. Monday morning, however, the FHP waited for Carpenter using an airplane and troopers stationed strategically along the highway. Soon enough, Carpenter led troopers on a chase captured on surveillance camera. At one point during the pursuit, Carpenter headed south in the northbound lanes and later smashed the cycle's front rim by hurling over a curb to avoid a tollbooth, according to police reports.
Carpenter outraced the troopers on his bike, but an airplane shadowed him to his apartment in the 15500 block of 105th Lane in south Miami-Dade County. When troopers arrived moments later, they saw Carpenter standing outside pretending to wash his car.
Carpenter denied being the motorcyclist at first, but it appears his pooch gave him up.
The dog came up to a window, moved a vertical blind and barked at the troopers outside, a report said. A trooper peeked inside Carpenter's bedroom and saw the motorcycle.
Also inside the bedroom: Carpenter's application for the FHP.
Police charged Carpenter with three counts of aggravated fleeing, two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and one count of reckless driving. He also received a citation for bending back his license tag from plain sight.
