FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - A suspect driving an alleged stolen vehicle was arrested by police in Fort Lauderdale following a brief pursuit.
Around 10 a.m. Tuesday, authorities followed the Audi in the area of Sistrunk Boulevard near Interstate 95.
According to Fort Lauderdale Police, there was originally a Be On the Lookout report for a stolen Mercedes out of Boca Raton. With assistance from the Broward Sheriff’s Officer, deputies spotted the Mercedes heading southbound on I-95.
The driver then abandoned the vehicle near Broward Boulevard and Interstate 95 and was picked up by the Audi, which had three people inside.
Once the subject was picked up, detectives said, the Audi traveled through Central Fort Lauderdale and then the three people inside fled from the vehicle. The driver of the alleged stolen Mercedes continued to drive the Audi through Fort Lauderdale.
Detectives said that the subject was responsible for at least three hit-and-run incidents, which resulted in minor injuries.
Local law enforcement started following the vehicle after the driver allegedly crashed in the area of Northwest 11th Street and 15th Court and fled the scene. After driving a few blocks, the car crashed into a home on Northwest 16th Street and 11th Way.
7Skyforce hovered over the scene of the home, where the vehicle was seen up against the home.
The suspect ran away from authorities for a few minutes, but was eventually stopped and taken into custody.
He was identified as 17-year-old Xavier Garel. His charges have not been disclosed.
No injuries were reported at the home the car crashed into.
7News spoke to a man who was working on a tree in front of the home when the car crashed.
“I’ve seen the car coming very fast, losing control, hit my fence, and you see the piece where he dropped over,” Joseph Metayer, the homeowner. “Seen the car coming very fast. Look like losing control, it was losing control.”
The other three people inside the Audi have not been located.
Florida Highway Patrol and Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies are assisting Fort Lauderdale Police in this incident.
The car has since been towed away from the scene.
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