NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - A South Florida driver was placed under arrest after, police said, he blocked the exit at the North Miami Beach Police station and engaged in a battle of wills with a detective inside a marked van.
According to North Miami Beach Police, David Chu called the station, located near Northeast 169th Street and 19th Avenue, Sunday evening, and informed them he would ram a police vehicle on the station’s south side. Officers then spotted the suspect’s sedan near the exit gate.
Surveillance video captured Chu’s silver car blocking the exit. Shortly after, the gate opens and a police van is seen inching closer to his vehicle. The two vehicles are then seen backing up and pulling forward as they gradually kept getting closer.
Inside the van, police said, was a detective identified in the arrest report as Detective Mann, accompanied by several girls from the department’s Police Explorers program, which is aimed at young men and women,between 14 and 21 years old, who are interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement.
Area residents told 7News they were concerned by the incident. “It’s scary because you’re there driving and suddenly that happens,” said a woman. “You don’t know at what moment you get in trouble.”
According to the arrest report, at one point Chu told the detective, “I want to kill you.”
The back-and-forth between Chu and Mann continued until the van is seen driving forward, taking both vehicles out of the frame. Moments later, an officer is seen running out of the station toward the cars.
The arrest report states, “The defendant accelerated his vehicle. The defendant missed Detective Mann’s vehicle, striking the curb on the north side of the road.”
Investigators said Chu refused to exit his car, forcing officers to break the passenger side window to get him out of the vehicle.
Police said Chu had a strong odor of alcohol coming from him. He is facing a long list of charges.
Police said they are grateful no one got hurt during the incident and praised Mann for staying calm throughout the ordeal.
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