A North Bay Village man is facing serious charges after police say he tore across a string of Miami-Dade islands in a Ford Mustang during a high-speed chase early Friday, barreling over the John F. Kennedy Causeway, through North Bay and Harbor islands, and finally rolling into a Shell station on the causeway, where officers moved in and took him into custody.
According to an arrest report cited by Local 10, the whole thing kicked off around 2 a.m., when officers spotted the Mustang making multiple erratic U-turns near an active construction zone on Treasure Island. Officer Branden Stephens wrote that as he tried to get the tag and initiate a traffic stop, he had to push his own speed up to about 75 to 85 mph just to close the gap. Authorities say the driver was later identified as 31-year-old Alexander Neil Lawrence, who was booked on charges that include fleeing and eluding at high speed and reckless driving.
How the pursuit unfolded
The arrest report states that "the vehicle continued to accelerate away in an apparent attempt to bait a pursuit," with officers alleging the Mustang blew through red lights at Hispaniola Avenue, Adventure Avenue and Larry Paskow Way before finally pulling into the Shell at 1345 John F. Kennedy Causeway. Police say they approached Lawrence as he walked away from the car and that he acknowledged being the driver. Their K-9, Atlas, showed interest in the interior, according to the report, though officers say no drugs were found. The Mustang itself was described as "hot to the touch and emitting fumes from the high performance" when officers checked it out, per Local 10.
Charges and legal context
North Bay Village police say Lawrence was booked on a felony count of fleeing and eluding at high speed and a traffic charge of reckless driving. He was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, the county’s main booking facility, according to Miami-Dade Corrections. Under Florida law, aggravated fleeing or eluding at high speed or with wanton disregard for safety can be treated as an aggravated offense, with possible penalties including years in prison and revocation of a driver’s license, per the Florida Statutes.
Causeway safety concerns
The Kennedy Causeway is a narrow, heavily traveled lifeline where construction crews, commuters and boaters all converge, the sort of corridor where a high-speed pursuit can quickly put bystanders in harm’s way. Local reporting has noted past crashes and police incidents along the route, underscoring why residents and officials are wary of any chase on that stretch, including a deadly wreck on the 79th Street Causeway.
Prosecutors will decide whether to move forward with formal charges, and any arraignment or later court dates will be posted on the Miami-Dade criminal docket. For schedule details, the county lists upcoming hearings on the Miami-Dade Clerk site, and booking or visitation information for TGK is available through the Miami-Dade Corrections page noted above.
