A routine traffic stop in Miami turned chaotic Monday afternoon when, police say, 34-year-old David Andres Mejia rammed a parked car at a church, injured a detective and then led officers on a dangerous chase through several city streets before crashing and attempting to run away. Mejia was taken into custody around 4:30 p.m., and authorities said no other serious injuries were reported.
Traffic Stop Spirals Into Dangerous Chase
Miami police detectives working a violent-crime detail tried to stop Mejia near Northwest 17th Avenue and 57th Street after spotting him driving a 2025 Ford F-150 without a seatbelt. According to the arrest report, Mejia revved the engine, threw the truck into reverse and rammed an unoccupied parked vehicle at a nearby church, then sped off and ran multiple stop signs, according to 7 News WSVN.
Crash, Foot Chase and Arrest Near Northwest 41st Street
The pursuit ended when the pickup became disabled after crashing into a tree at 710 Northwest 41st Street. Mejia then ran on foot through a grassy area and tried to climb a metal fence before officers caught up with him. The arrest report notes that Mejia told officers, "Don't do me like that," and when a detective said he had stopped Mejia before, Mejia replied, "Yeah, I remember you." A detective suffered an injury to his right foot during the encounter, and officers said they had to use physical force to get Mejia into handcuffs because he had pinned his hands beneath his body.
Mejia now faces a long list of charges, including aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, aggravated fleeing and eluding after an accident with injury or damage, fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, leaving the scene of a crash, and resisting an officer without violence, as reported by 7 News WSVN.
Charges Come With Extra Teeth Under Florida Law
Under Florida law, assaults on certain protected personnel, including law enforcement officers, can be reclassified with enhanced penalties when the conduct is aggravated. An aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer can be treated as a second-degree felony, which comes with increased prison exposure. Fleeing or attempting to elude a law-enforcement officer is covered by a separate statute and can be charged as aggravated fleeing or eluding when the incident results in injury or property damage, which raises the severity of the offense. See the statutes at Florida Statutes and legal analysis at Musca Law for details.
Local Context
High-speed chases and reckless pursuits have been a recurring safety concern in South Florida, with other incidents this year prompting officers to call off pursuits when public safety is at risk, including a March 23 case in which a driver fled and crashed into multiple vehicles, according to local reporting. Those episodes underscore the constant balancing act for police, who must weigh catching a suspect against the risk of putting bystanders and officers in more danger. Local coverage has documented several such encounters recently, including reporting by Local 10.
Mejia remains in custody and is expected to face formal filings in court as prosecutors review the arrest report and related materials. Authorities had not released bond information or court dates in the immediate reporting, and additional details are likely to come through official records or future police statements.
