A van came within inches of smashing through the front windows of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services field office in northwest Miami-Dade on Thursday night, ending a chaotic scene that landed the driver in handcuffs, according to deputies.
Authorities say the vehicle barreled across a parking lot outside the federal building, then lurched to a stop on concrete fixtures just short of several USCIS windows. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews checked the driver for injuries at the scene before deputies detained him.
According to WSVN, Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office deputies were originally called out around 7:40 p.m. for reports of an assault in a parking lot near 8801 NW Seventh Avenue. Deputies say they found the man sitting in the driver's seat of a van. When ordered to step out, he allegedly refused, then hit the gas and tore through the lot at high speed.
The van's ride ended at the concrete stoppers in front of the building, where it came to rest just shy of the office's glass. Deputies on scene conducted a field sobriety test on camera, then took the driver into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence while investigators documented the crash site.
Where it happened
The near-crash unfolded outside the USCIS Miami Field Office at 8801 NW 7th Avenue, the federal location that handles in-person immigration services for northeast Miami-Dade. That address is listed for the Miami field office on official USCIS office directories and by local mapping services, confirming where the incident took place.
Investigation and possible charges
Deputies say the driver was booked on suspicion of DUI and that the investigation into what led up to the chaotic scene is still active, WSVN reports.
Under Florida law, driving under the influence can carry fines, jail time and ignition-interlock requirements for convicted drivers, and repeat offenses or crashes that cause serious injury can be charged as felonies. The penalties are spelled out in Florida Statutes §316.193.
Authorities say they are still working to determine the circumstances that sent the van racing through the lot. This story will be updated when the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office releases additional details or if formal charges are filed.
