A Florida State football player is accused of leading troopers on a chase that reached more than 150 mph before abandoning his SUV and running away.
The whole thing started when a deputy clocked the vehicle at 79 mph in a 50-mph zone. The driver was 18-year-old Chauncey “Chuck” Kennon, a freshman cornerback at Florida State University.
According to a Florida Highway Patrol arrest affidavit obtained by UPI, the chase happened early Sunday, October 11, near Tampa.
Kennon wasn’t caught that morning, but he turned himself in to police the following day. He’s now facing three charges, and Florida State has already removed him from the football team.
Troopers Chase SUV Going More Than 150 MPH
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Florida Highway Patrol trooper Erik Cutino was conducting speed enforcement with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office around 2 a.m. when a deputy spotted a Dodge Durango speeding along State Road 60.
The deputy recorded the SUV traveling at 79 mph in a 50-mph zone. When law enforcement tried to catch up with the vehicle, the driver took off. The Durango ran a red light, struck a raised curb, and reached speeds of more than 150 mph during the pursuit, according to the affidavit.
Troopers temporarily lost sight of the SUV before finding it stopped with a flat tire. One trooper approached the vehicle and saw the driver get out and run into a nearby industrial plant.
Troopers and deputies established a perimeter and searched the area with assistance from aviation and K9 units. They also found Kennon’s phone inside the Durango, still turned on and unlocked.
Passenger Says She Asked Driver To Stop More Than 10 Times
During the search, a trooper found a woman with cuts on her arm. Her clothing was covered in dirt, blood, and grass, according to the affidavit.
The woman told troopers she had been with Kennon in Ybor City before leaving with him in the Durango. She said he started driving recklessly, and she didn’t want to be involved in what he was doing.
She told troopers she asked Kennon to stop the SUV more than 10 times, but he kept driving. The woman initially gave conflicting information about what had happened. Troopers placed her in handcuffs while they questioned her.
Football Player Arrested on Felony Charges
Kennon turned himself in on Monday, October 12, and was arrested at 9:27 p.m. According to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office booking records, he was booked that night on three charges.
Those charges include aggravated fleeing to elude, a second-degree felony, and false imprisonment, a third-degree felony. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of resisting an officer without violence.
Kennon’s attorneys entered a not guilty plea on his behalf Tuesday. Attorney Michael Shapley told UPI that Kennon had not been convicted of a crime and that the legal process was ongoing.
Florida State also confirmed Tuesday that Kennon was no longer part of its football program. A university spokesperson said he was removed for “conduct detrimental to the team.” Kennon was the Seminoles’ highest-rated recruit in their 2026 class. He played just one snap this season, during an October 3 game against Virginia.