18-year-old woman arrested after fleeing from deputy on stolen motorcycle, authorities say

Female passenger will not face charges

MARATHON, Fla. – An 18-year-old woman from Homestead was arrested Friday after she fled from a Monroe County sheriff's deputy on a stolen motorcycle, authorities said.

Monroe County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Becky Herrin said a deputy was driving in his marked patrol truck in Marathon at 6:10 p.m. when he saw two motorcycles speed past him.

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Herrin said there were two people on each motorcycle, and one motorcycle did not have a license tag.

The deputy attempted to stop the motorcycles, but they sped up and fled from him, Herrin said.

The deputy followed for a short distance and then broke off the pursuit because of the danger involved and radioed a description of the motorcycles to any deputies south of where he was.

A detective in an unmarked car spotted the stolen motorcycle at the south end of the Bahia Honda Bridge and followed it to a parking area, where the driver and passenger got off of the motorcycle.

Herrin said the detective identified himself as a law enforcement officer and the driver, Taimy Diaz Cruz, was taken into custody.

Herrin said the motorcycle was stolen in Broward County.

Diaz Cruz faces charges of with grand theft auto, fleeing and eluding police and operating a motorcycle without a motorcycle endorsement on her driver's license.

The woman who was riding on the motorcycle with her was not arrested.

 


About the Author:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.