A late-night street takeover near Miami Lakes turned ugly early Sunday when someone hurled a live firework at a Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office deputy, leaving him with a minor burn to his hand, authorities said. The blast hit just before 1:30 a.m. at the intersection of Northwest 77th Court and Northwest 169th Street, and two suspects took off in unknown vehicles. Deputies say the case is still under investigation.
Deputy Hit With Live Firework, MDSO Says
An MDSO spokesperson told Local 10 that deputies were in the middle of taking one person into custody when another person "launched a live firework directly at the deputy," causing a "minor burn" to the deputy's hand. According to the spokesperson, both suspects then sped off in vehicles that have not been identified.
The sheriff's office described the injury as non-life-threatening and said, "The investigation remains active." For now, investigators are working to track down the pair who turned a takeover into a crime scene.
Officials Ask Public To Help Track Suspects
Authorities are urging anyone who saw what happened or has video of the incident to contact the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers of Miami-Dade at 305-471-8477. The Crime Stoppers site notes that callers stay anonymous and may be eligible for rewards if their information leads to an arrest.
Deputies have not released any suspect identities, and no arrests have been announced.
Second Takeover Leaves Three Injured, Deputies Say
The Miami Lakes incident was not the only street chaos keeping officers busy over the holiday weekend. In a separate takeover east of Doral early Sunday, deputies said three people were hurt, according to Local 10. In that case, deputies and Doral police both responded, and detectives were said to be actively investigating.
Officials say unauthorized takeover events can quickly turn dangerous for participants and bystanders alike, and investigators in both incidents are asking the public to share any video or tips that could help move the cases forward.
