LAUDERHILL, FLA. (WSVN) - Three teens appeared in bond court, Thursday, one day after, authorities said, they led police on a chase across Broward County in an SUV they stole at gunpoint from a woman.
7News cameras captured two of the suspects, Timmy German and Verlin Porter, both 14, walking into a Fort Lauderdale courtroom, Thursday afternoon. The third suspect, 15-year-old Alexander Burris, appeared in court, Thursday morning.
According to officials, the police chase, which started in Fort Lauderdale, Wednesday afternoon, was the result of a carjacking that happened the night before, in the southeastern part of Fort Lauderdale.
The victim of the carjacking spoke to 7News and described her ordeal, which happened at around 8 p.m., Tuesday. “I got out of the SUV, and I locked the door,” the victim, who asked not to be identified or show her face on camera.
After she locked the door of her 2017 Dodge Journey, she was ambushed. “[They] grabbed me from behind the neck, pulled me down to the floor and told me, ‘Get your [expletive] keys out, or we’re gonna kill you,'” the victim said.
When the victim complied, the group threw her to the ground. Surveillance video captures the teens trying to get into the SUV.
“I was still on the floor, asking, ‘Please, do not hurt me,'” said the victim.
The subjects got into the car, which she was renting, and drove off. The victim is then seen running to her boyfriend’s Fort Lauderdale home at the Rio Vista neighborhood.
Seconds later, the victim’s boyfriend is seen running outside to see if he could catch up with the teens. He then ran back inside and called 911.
Police said they spotted the stolen black SUV the following day, in the area of Northwest 27th Avenue, in Fort Lauderdale, and tried to stop it, but the driver took off.
The teens also led police on a high-speed chase through major roads, such as Sunrise Boulevard, where two schools were put on lockdown as a result.
7’s Skyforce HD followed the chase as the driver cut in and out of traffic and even drove on sidewalks as police continued to follow the vehicle closely.
About 10 minutes into the chase, at least two of the vehicle’s tires blew out, causing the car to fishtail down a road and into a residential area.
Once the car stopped in Lauderhill, near Northwest 34th Avenue, between Fifth and Seventh streets, a passenger inside of the vehicle bailed out of the car and took off running on foot into nearby residences.
Neighbors in the area watched the chase as it unfolded. “The car was coming all the way up and then we were almost into it,” said witness Michelle Steven’s. “One of the guys took out and started running like crazy, and he took off and ran all the way over there, and the police was running right behind.”
This person eventually surrendered to police and was taken into custody.
“I seen him slide,” said one witness. “I seen him going fast. They tried to run.”
In addition to this arrest, two other suspects who were in the vehicle were arrested. According to police, the three arrested are juveniles ages 14 and 15 years old.
The SUV, which was in bad shape, was towed away late Wednesday afternoon as evidence.
No one was hurt during the chase. However, the carjacking victim was left shaken. She is now warning others to always be aware of their surroundings. “I’m scared that I have to look around in every way, when I’m coming, even to your own house.”
Speaking in court on Thursday, the father of one of the suspects told the judge he is a good teen that just got with the wrong crowd. “He made a mistake. He does good in school. He deserves a chance,” said the parent.
All three teens were charged with armed carjacking, fleeing and eluding, and resisting arrest. The teen who was driving the car is facing additional charges.
The teens will be spending the next 29 days in juvenile detention and are scheduled to go before a judge again in February.
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