Body camera footage released by the Miami Beach police has documented an incident involving an officer and a University of Miami graduate student who collided on a scooter. The video captures the encounter last Monday, Nov. 17 near 71st Street along the Beachwalk, where officer Julio Blanco was enforcing a ban on electric scooters. In the footage obtained by Local 10, 29-year-old Noah Aloush can be seen hitting Blanco before fleeing the scene.
According to police, the collision resulted in a hairline fracture to Blanco's elbow. The search for Aloush, who took off after the crash, lasted about 10 minutes before officers captured him. The pursuit concluded when Aloush, who is a veteran and a known scooter stunt enthusiast on social media, lost control of his vehicle at 77th and Bayside Lane and fell. Following his arrest, Aloush was tased twice before handcuffing, as mentioned in reports by Local 10.
Aloush now faces a roster of charges including aggravated assault of a police officer, fleeing and eluding police, and reckless driving. Following a court appearance last Wednesday, Nov. 19, he was given a bond set at $20,500 and subsequently released. Officer Blanco remarked on the event in a statement to 7News, indicating the summary of the event, "Striking me, knocking me to the ground and injuring my right elbow," adding, "When I was on the ground, I looked at him, he saw me, and instead of rendering aid, he decided to jump back on and flee."
7News caught up with Aloush after his release, but he offered no comment regarding his arrest. His actions and the resulting chase are part of an ongoing conversation in Miami Beach about the safety and regulations pertaining to electric scooters, which are prohibited on pathways like the Beachwalk where the incident took place.
