FLORIDA CITY, FLA. (WSVN) - - A registered sex offender who took his own life after leading authorities on a cross-county chase from Miami-Dade to Martin counties wanted law enforcers to kill him, his family said.
The lengthy pursuit ended Saturday evening when, detectives said, Michael Sardinas shot himself near mile marker 127 on the Florida Turnpike.
Speaking with reporters on Sunday, Sardinas’ loved ones said the outcome could have been different.
“He’s human. He made a mistake,” said his stepmother, Martha Sardinas. “I’m sorry everything happened.”
According to officials, it all began when Sardinas hit a car near U.S. 1 and Southwest 336th Street in Florida City, Saturday afternoon.
“It was a hit-and-run with injuries in Florida City,” said Martin County Sheriff William Snyder. “Miami-Dade Police Department picked that vehicle up, saw it, attempted a stop. The vehicle started running.”
Investigators said Sardinas took off in his Chevy sedan and got on the Turnpike heading north.
“It didn’t have to go this far. It didn’t. He was only going 65 miles an hour,” said Martha. “That’s not even going high speed.”
Sardinas’ father and stepmother said officers should have never chased him down.
“They could have broken off the chase,” said his father, Patricio Sardinas. “You got a helicopter up there. Get rid of the cops, get the helicopter, follow him to wherever he’s going to go and catch him there.”
But authorities said Sardinas was armed and dangerous. Police found two semi-automatic handguns inside his Chevy sedan, and officials said he shot at pursuing officers through the rearview windshield.
No officers or civilian drivers on the highway were hurt.
Sardinas’ family said he didn’t want to harm anyone but himself.
“That’s what he wanted. Point blank, he wanted the cops to kill him,” said Martha.
Sardinas’ father said nothing scared his son more than going back behind bars.
“He didn’t want to go back to prison. They tried to kill him there a bunch of times,” said Patricio. “He served his four years. He was out on the street for three years. He was trying to get his life together.”
But police said Sardinas’ run from the law put tens of dozens of innocent drivers at risk, including the officers he was allegedly firing at during the chase.
Sardinas’ father and stepmother acknowledged the right thing would have been for him to stay at the scene of the hit-and-run.
“That would have been the right choice, for him to stop,” said Patricio.
“But he was afraid,” said Martha. “He knew that he was going to jail. What did you want? If you’re gonna go back to jail, that they were gonna kill you in jail?”
Sardinas’ loved ones said his mistakes shouldn’t have cost him his life, even if he endangered the lives of others.
“Don’t profile him like he is a bad, bad criminal,” said Martha. “He’s not, because he was a kid who had a great heart. I wish he were still here.”
Sardinas’ family also said they’re upset that, as of late Sunday night, his body had not been released to them for a proper funeral. Police said it is part of an ongoing investigation.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.