Miami Deputy Confronts Alleged Turnpike Driver From Wheelchair In Packed Courtroom

In a powerful courtroom moment months in the making, Miami-Dade Deputy Leo Cantave, still recovering from a brutal hit on Florida's Turnpike, was rolled into a Miami-Dade courthouse Wednesday to watch the man accused of slamming into him get formally arraigned.

Cantave sat in a wheelchair, his arm in a sling, as 28-year-old Lonnel Brinson appeared via Zoom and pleaded not guilty to a slate of charges tied to the Dec. 27 crash. Dozens of deputies filled the gallery, a visible show of support as prosecutors walked through what they say happened that night.

Driver Arraigned on Multiple Counts

According to NBC6 South Florida, Brinson was arraigned on charges that include reckless driving causing serious bodily injury, DUI with serious bodily injury, knowingly driving with a suspended license, and driving without a license or with a suspended license causing serious bodily injury.

Court records cited by the outlet show Brinson entered a not-guilty plea during the virtual hearing and is required to turn himself in because of an outstanding bench warrant tied to a traffic citation.

How Investigators Say It Unfolded

The crash happened on Dec. 27 when Cantave had stopped on the northbound side of the Turnpike to help Florida Highway Patrol troopers with an earlier wreck, according to authorities. Investigators say Brinson did not slow down, struck Cantave and sent him into the air.

Cantave was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition and remained there for weeks before being released earlier in February, as reported by Local 10.

Arrest Report Details

According to NBC6 South Florida, Brinson stayed at the scene after the impact and told investigators he had used marijuana and alcohol before driving. He also acknowledged having marijuana and a firearm in his vehicle, the arrest report states.

The report further notes that Brinson’s driver’s license had been suspended five times for failure to pay fines, with the most recent suspension issued on Dec. 8, 2025.

Department Response and Cantave's Recovery

Within the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, Cantave has been embraced as a symbol of both vulnerability and resolve. Fellow deputies and command staff have rallied around him since the crash, marking his release from a rehabilitation facility earlier this month as a milestone in a long recovery.

Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz publicly praised Cantave’s conduct on the Turnpike, saying he pushed another officer out of the way before he was hit, according to reporting by CBS Miami.

What’s Next

Prosecutors are continuing to build the case as they review the arrest report and related evidence. Brinson had previously bonded out of jail and was set for Wednesday’s arraignment on Feb. 25, according to court filings cited by the Miami Herald.

With a not-guilty plea now on the record, upcoming hearings will determine whether prosecutors add charges or move the case toward trial, while Cantave’s recovery and return to normal life continue in parallel outside the courtroom.