A man suspected of stealing a pickup truck from Dadeland Mall led Miami-Dade deputies on a chaotic pursuit that ended near Miami International Airport, striking a sheriff's cruiser along the way before ramming through a fence in one final attempt to escape. The deputy inside the struck patrol car was not hurt, and the driver was ultimately taken into custody.
Chase Began After Deputy Spotted Suspect Leaving Mall
According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, a deputy saw a man suspected of stealing the truck after he left Dadeland Mall. As reported by WSVN, when deputies attempted a traffic stop, the driver fled at a high rate of speed instead of pulling over, setting off a pursuit that would carry the truck across Miami-Dade County.
During that attempted stop, the pickup struck an MDSO cruiser, the station's report states. The deputy inside the cruiser that was hit was not injured, despite the collision.
Pursuit Ends Near Airport With Fence Crash
The truck was later spotted in an employee parking lot near Miami International Airport, per the same account. Rather than surrendering, the driver tried to flee once more, this time by ramming the vehicle into a fence just outside the airport grounds.
That attempt to break away failed. The article notes that deputies moved in and took the man into custody once the truck became stuck after hitting the fence, bringing the chase to an end near one of the busiest travel hubs in South Florida.
What Florida Law Says About Fleeing Deputies
Fleeing or attempting to elude a marked law-enforcement vehicle at high speed or with wanton disregard for safety is classified as a second-degree felony under Florida law when the statutory conditions are met, including an activated siren and lights, according to Florida Statutes Section 316.1935. When a crash during such a pursuit causes injury or property damage, the conduct is classified as aggravated fleeing or eluding, also a second-degree felony.
The same statute requires a court to revoke the driver's license of anyone convicted under the law for between one and five years. It also deems any vehicle involved in a violation contraband, meaning it may be seized by a law-enforcement agency and is subject to forfeiture.
