2 arrested after stealing Miami-Dade police car, authorities say

Unmarked car found submerged in canal, police say

Christian Carvajal, 19, is accused of stealing a Miami-Dade police car.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Two people have been arrested after an unmarked Miami-Dade police car was stolen from outside an officer's home in southwest Miami-Dade County.

Police said the officer woke up about 9 a.m. Friday and discovered that his police-issued Dodge Charger was missing and that someone had broken into his two personal vehicles, a Honda Accord and a Jeep Cherokee.

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Multiple items were taken from his car, including his police-issued Glock handgun, a Taser, his police badge, a ballistic vest, a ballistic helmet and his personal AR-15 rifle.

The Charger was found the next day in a canal on Bird Road and Southwest 162nd Avenue.

According to an arrest report, fingerprints found on the Accord matched a 15-year-old boy.

Police said the boy confessed to stealing the car with the help of Christian Carvajal, 19, and another person, known only to him as Luis.

Detectives said the teen claims that Luis drove the trio to the officer's home and the teen acted as a lookout.

He also confessed to committing two other vehicle burglaries and stealing a car that day with Carvajal, police said.

Detectives said Carvajal led them to where the car was abandoned.

The teen faces a third-degree grand theft auto charge.

Carvajal faces multiple charges, including grand theft auto, burglary, littering and unlawfully taking a law enforcement officer's firearm.


About the Author:

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