CORAL GABLES, FLA. (WSVN) - Police took a driver into custody on the University of Miami’s Coral Gables campus after, investigators said, the motorist led officers on a chase that, at one point, prompted one of the officers to open fire.
Twenty-two-year-old Richard Grissom-Rodgers was not struck by the bullets but was arrested.
He’s charged with a long list of things including battery and attempted murder on a law enforcement officer.
According to Coral Gables Police, officers using a license plate reader got a hit on a stolen vehicle used in a robbery, Tuesday, at around 6:45 p.m. Shortly after, the law enforcers zeroed in on a Toyota Camry traveling southbound on U.S. 1, near the 600 block.
When an officer and his backup tried to stop the sedan near Granada Boulevard, the driver took off, tearing through a grassy median under the Metrorail tracks, by the UM campus. From there, the subject hopped into the southbound lanes of Ponce De Leon Boulevard.
Officials said the subject then tried to ram a police cruiser. “When he went by one of the officers, he attempted to strike the officer,” said Coral Gables Police Officer Kelly Denham. “That’s when officer discharged his firearm.”
The subject was not struck, and he continued on Ponce De Leon.
Seconds later, at around 7 p.m, police said, the driver struck two vehicles near Red Road. “The suspect got out and began to flee on foot,” said Denham. “Our officers gave chase and apprehended him inside the baseball field at UM.”
Officials said the other drivers suffered minor injuries, and a police officer broke his hand while tackling the subject. He was treated and has since been released from the hospital.
University of Miami Police took to social media to issue an alert to students about “police activity” in the southeast section of the campus. They later sent out a tweet saying in part, “Campus is safe.”
UMiami ENN: GABLES CAMPUS – Campus is safe. Police investigation will continue. Updates will be provided if the situation changes.
— UMPolice (@UMPolice) February 15, 2017
“The subject was not hit and had minor injuries, I believe, due to the crash,” said Denham. “We will know more as the investigation continues.”
Ponce De Leon remained shut down in both directions, between Granada and Red Road. It has since been reopened.
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