FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - A man was arrested after stealing a luxury SUV and crashing it into the drive-thru window of a fast food restaurant, authorities said. Police said he was trying to elude officers when he lost control.
Fort Lauderdale Police were notified about a Rolls-Royce that was stolen from the valet at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, at around 2:15 a.m. on Wednesday.
7News spoke with the owner of the vehicle, who asked not to be identified.
“I was sleeping, get a knock on the door and [employees] saying that ‘Your car was taken from valet,'” said the owner.
But the joyride didn’t last long, because officers were able to locate the vehicle traveling westbound on West Broward Boulevard.
Detectives said the driver of the stolen Rolls-Royce, identified as 21-year-old Malik Patterson, spotted officers tailing him and tried to drive away but ultimately ended up crashing into the Checkers located at 2701 West Broward Blvd.
The SUV plowed right through the drive-thru window of the fast-food chain. Luckily, no one inside was injured.
An employee told 7News off camera that it was a close call, and she’s just glad she was able to jump out of the way in time.
The vehicle’s owner said these sorts of things just happen.
“I am going to say that I am definitely not shocked. It’s a Rolls-Royce, and people like to steal things and had to do a little bit of a joyride,” he said.
After the crash, Patterson exited the vehicle and ran away on foot.
He was eventually caught by Fort Lauderdale Police’s K-9 team and arrested.
Patterson was taken to a nearby hospital to be checked out as a precaution.
“This joyride here ended up not too fun for this person, ’cause he’s locked up and the car’s totaled, so what are you going to do?” said the SUV’s owner.
The totaled vehicle was pulled out of the drive-thru.
The Checkers remained closed all day Wednesday as employees cleaned up the mess.
Wedmesday night, 7News cameras captured the drive-thru window boarded up.
Patterson is facing charges of grand theft of a motor vehicle and resisting without violence. He also had two outstanding felony warrants, one in Broward County and the other in Placer County, California.
At some point, Patterson will appear before a judge.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.