WEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Two men are facing charges after leading police on a chase through Southwest Miami-Dade following an assault on an officer.
According to officials, Eric Garcia and another man were in the area of Southwest 137th Avenue and the entrance of the Florida Turnpike when a Homestead Police officer tried to pull them over, at around 10 a.m., Tuesday. Investigators said one of the bikers sideswiped the squad car, and both men took off along Southwest 187th Avenue.
7News is waiting on the release of the other suspect’s name.
Soon after fleeing, one of the men took a spill on a sharp turn onto the Turnpike, crashing his bike, and he was taken into custody near an off-ramp. Miami-Dade Police provided assistance.
In case you missed it: Police chase in Southwest Miami-Dade, motorcyclist arrested by @MiamiDadePD. WATCH: https://t.co/OInGaCOtEk
— WSVN 7 News (@wsvn) May 24, 2016
The officer involved pursued the second subject in a chase that lasted almost 20 minutes. The motorcyclist got off the Turnpike, winding his way up and down streets.
When he finally decided to stop, 7Skyforce hovered above as the man parked his bike behind a Publix Supermarket at Southwest 137th Avenue and Eighth Street, in Southwest Miami-Dade, and took off on foot.
The suspect jumped over multiple backyard fences in a residential area before he gave up and lied down in the street, in the area of Southwest 149th Place and 14th Street and waited for police.
7Skyforce and 7News viewer Israel Pina captured officers handcuffing the runaway rider and taking him away. “This guy just got apprehended in front of my house,” Pina said in the video. “That is crazy.”
Pina got a text from a neighbor who said he was watching 7News and notified him of the scene. “Something’s happening in front of my house,” said Pina. “That’s when I turned on Channel 7 News, and I saw that the same feed that I was taking a video of, was on the news live.”
At noon, two Miami-Dade Police officers stood guard with the bike the second subject abandoned, which remained parked at the shopping center. It was loaded onto a tow truck about 20 minutes later.
The investigation remains ongoing. It is unclear if the men have hired an attorney.
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