NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - A driver was taken into custody after he battered an officer, struck three vehicles and took off on foot while attempting to flee a traffic stop in North Miami Beach, police said.
According to North Miami Beach Police, an officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop in the area of Northeast 172nd Street and 19th Avenue, at around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
The driver, identified as 22-year-old Jonathan Rivas, allegedly battered the officer and fled northbound, striking three vehicles just south of the intersection at Northeast 18th Avenue and Miami Gardens Drive.
According to the arrest report, as one officer stood with Rivas during the initial traffic stop, another officer smelled marijuana and spotted “two glass pipes and two empty baggies on the floorboard.” That’s when, according to police, Rivas took off, “pushing Officer Imani, several feet with both hands, jumped inside his vehicle and fled.”
Rivas would allegedly cause the multi-vehicle crash just a short time after.
“I just know he hit all of us,” said one of the drivers who was hit.
One of the damaged cars needed to be towed after the airbag was deployed. Several other vehicles were scattered across the roadway with scrapes and dents that, police said, were caused by Rivas.
One driver who was hit described the suspect’s reckless actions.
“He hit her first, sent her flying to the side, this car, pushed this car right into us, and I guess he hit us one more time before he was done,” he said.
The driver told 7News he saw officers chase Rivas on foot during a second escape attempt.
“All I saw the officer chased him that way,” he said.
After a short foot pursuit, officers caught up to Rivas and took him into custody.
According to the arrest report, Rivas “refused to give officers his hand, by pulling, bracing, tensing and attempting to avoid being placed under arrest.”
One of the other drivers involved in the crash was transported to a local area hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.
Rivas is facing multiple charges, including battery on an officer, fleeing and eluding, resisting arrest, reckless driving causing injury and drug possession.
Rivas did not appear in bond court Thursday and remains behind bars awaiting bond to be set for two of his charges.
He is likely to appear before a judge Friday morning.
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