WEST PARK, FLA. (WSVN) - A chain of events unfolded late Monday night when a woman was carjacked at gunpoint in West Park, leading to an interstate standoff in Northeast Miami-Dade. After approximately six hours, authorities arrested the suspect with the help of a robot dog that came into contact with the vehicle in question.
The suspect was identified as 27-year-old Darnell Paul.
The incident began in the 2700 block of South State Road 7 around 11:52 p.m. when Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to reports of an armed robbery. The victim reported that a known individual carjacked her, leading to authorities to issue a Be-On-The-Lookout for the stolen vehicle and suspect.
Once officers found Paul, a pursuit began and extended into early Tuesday, involving both BSO and Miami-Dade Police officers. The chase led to a crash around 3 a.m. on the off-ramp of Interstate 95 at Miami Gardens Drive, where Paul barricaded himself.
“Detectives say through investigative methods, they were able to locate the vehicle and a pursuit ensued in both Broward and Miami-Dade counties,” said BSO’s Gerdy St. Louis.
Live video footage showed Paul as he was surrounded by law enforcement, including officers from the Special Response Team of the Miami-Dade Police Department.
7Skyforce captured the moments before he was arrested as a robot dog approached the vehicle to aid in the situation. Just before 9 a.m., the Special Response Team closed in on the car to open the driver-side door to arrest him as a sniper was spotted close by.
“This is one of the Miami-Dade Special Response teams. As they force the door and bring out a suspect here,” said 7Skyforce’ reporter Ralph Rayburn. “This is a gentlemen that may have been involved in a carjacking in West Park.”
As a result of this incident, all lanes of South I-95 were closed between Ives Dairy Road and the Golden Glades, creating a traffic nightmare for morning commuters, but they have since been reopened.
“Vehicle appears to have crashed into a tree. There was one person, that we know of, inside. That was the driver of the vehicle,” said Rayburn.
Warren, who works nearby, said he was affected by the incident.
“I had not seen that many police officers in a long time,” said Warren. “We were basically told that there was an armed suspect out on the street and they were trying to find him and we were basically shut out of all of our businesses until they could find whoever it was.”
Paul’s car was towed away.
Miami-Dade Police Department is the lead on this incident while Florida Highway Patrol troopers assisted with traffic.
Paul faces charges of armed carjacking, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and attempted murder in regards to BSO’s case.
MDPD have not disclosed any additional charges he may face.
According to BSO, Paul was previously arrested in Miramar after he barricaded himself on the balcony of a house and threatened to kill himself. He was released in March after the state declined to prosecute.
Detectives said Paul knew the owner of the vehicle he carjacked. Their relationship is unclear.
Paul remains behind bars at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
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