Pinecrest Police officer injured while interrupting street takeover on US-1, authorities say; suspect arrested
A South Florida police officer was released from the hospital after he was injured Saturday night while interrupting a street takeover on U.S. Highway 1 in southern Miami-Dade County. Authorities said the suspect was arrested.
Adolfo Dennis Jr., 24, has now been charged with attempted second-degree murder of a law enforcement officer, after Pinecrest Police said he struck Ofc. Andres Garcia with his off-road vehicle around 9 p.m. Saturday.
Police said the officer was responding to what they referred to as a "road takeover."
"This was a large group," said Pinecrest Police public information officer Ivan Osores. "There were approximately six or seven off-road vehicles, each one transporting three to four passengers and a driver."
Police said Garcia shot and missed at an off-road vehicle when it hit him while trying to escape. He was released from the hospital with minor injuries.
"When the officer arrived at the gas station, the vehicle that fled pinned him — basically, pinned him between the subject vehicle and the officer's car," Osores said. "At that time, the officer felt the need to discharge his firearm at the threat."
After fleeing the Mobil gas station near US-1 and Southwest 104th Street, police said the vehicle made it about 18 miles west of there until police used a pit maneuver to stop the vehicle.
New video from overnight showed a cavalry of cop cars chasing the vehicle before stopping it near Southwest 167th Street and Krome Avenue.
Jessica Arnesen said this isn't the first time she's heard of off-road vehicles putting drivers in danger around here.
"It's concerning, and I try to avoid US-1 because it's a big risk," she told CBS News Miami.
Police said this is part of a larger trend of brazen drivers using off-road vehicles on busy roads.
"In the last several years, this seems to be more of a trend, if you will," Osores said.
Police said there were two other people in the off-road vehicle that were stopped. It's unclear yet if they'll be charged, and police are looking for the other people involved in the road takeover.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating this incident.
