HOMESTEAD, FLA. (WSVN) - On Monday, Homestead Police officers were investigating a rollover vehicle crash at the intersection of Northeast Eighth Street and North Homestead Boulevard when an unexpected incident occurred.
During the investigation, officers noticed a suspect, later identified as Johnny Lott, was disturbing items related to the ongoing investigation. Officials said an officer responsible for directing and blocking traffic instructed Lott to leave the area, but instead of complying, Lott entered a marked police vehicle and attempted to flee the scene.
While attempting to escape, Lott lost control of the police car and crashed into the fence of JD Redd Park. Lott then opens the door and begins to runs away but doesn’t get too far as he is tackled by good Samaritans. A witness, Eduardo Martinez, was wrapping up baseball practice when he noticed what was happening.
“I was putting my bag in my trunk. And we heard the tires screeching. We look up. Car slams right into this fence. Then the door opens, a random dude hops the fence. Quick, I never seen someone hop a fence so fast in my life. And runs. My teammate’s dad is the one that tackled him down,” said Martinez.
Video from social media pages Only in Dade and Truehomestead shows the moment the student from Somerset School and his father tackled Lott, holding him down until police officers arrived.
Martinez said his community members are heroes.
“Come on, we’re heroes out here, come on,” said Martinez.
The team’s coaches said they are proud of the son and father duo that took down Lott.
Lott now faces multiple charges, including grand theft of a motor vehicle, falsely impersonating a police officer, grand theft of law enforcement equipment, and two counts of resisting arrest without violence. Along with another case of criminal mischief.
Lott appeared before Miami-Dade Circuit judge Mindy S. Glazer on Tuesday morning, where his bond was set at $38,000.
In court, prosecutors also noted that Lott vandalized the jail van by engraving letters and the holding cell by writing ‘Hazard’ on the inside of it.
Records show Lott was released from prison back in February after being arrested for burglary with assault.
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