A quiet overnight patrol in Apopka turned into a quick chase and a felony arrest when officers spotted a man behind a closed auto repair shop and said he took off running, dropping a handgun along the way.
It happened shortly after 1:30 a.m., when officers on proactive patrol saw a man dressed in dark clothing near the shuttered business, police said. As they moved in to see why he was near the shop after hours, he bolted. The foot chase was brief, the discarded firearm was recovered, and the convicted felon was taken into custody without further incident, according to authorities.
How officers say it unfolded
Police say an officer on routine overnight patrol first spotted the man walking along the side of the closed auto repair shop and heading toward the rear area, where customer vehicles, tools, and other equipment are kept after hours. When the officer approached to question him about what he was doing on the property, the man ran.
The pursuit that followed was short. During the chase, the suspect dropped a handgun, which officers later recovered. He was arrested at the scene, and the gun was seized as evidence, according to a report from West Orlando News.
What the law says about felons and firearms
Florida law is blunt on this point: people convicted of a felony are not allowed to own, possess, or have control of a firearm. State law makes it illegal for a felon to have a gun in almost any form, and violations are classified as a second-degree felony…