MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A fugitive from Georgia was re-arrested Monday morning after he escaped from a police cruiser in Miami-Dade County, authorities said.
Miami-Dade police said Andy Ulysse, 33, who was arrested in the 13700 block of Collins Avenue earlier in the morning, broke the window of a police car and jumped out of the car on the Palmetto Expressway at Northwest 36th Street while on the way to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Police said Ulysse, who was still handcuffed, stole a white shuttle van from a Quality Inn shortly after the incident.
Detective Alvaro Zabaleta said police followed the vehicle to a Walgreens parking lot at Northwest 41st Street and Northwest 97th Avenue, where they took Ulysse into custody. He was then taken to Miami-Dade police headquarters in Doral.
"Why'd you run?" Local 10 News reporter Michael Seiden asked Ulysse as he was being escorted to jail.
"'Cause I used to run track back in high school," Ulysse answered.
According to an arrest affidavit, Ulysse initially told police that he was 20 years old and his name was Joquazious Thomas.
Police said Ulysse sideswiped a woman's car and struck a Sweetwater police cruiser during the short police chase.
Ulysse is wanted in Georgia on two warrants. One warrant is for armed robbery, burglary, home invasion, kidnapping and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The second warrant is for armed robbery, false imprisonment and theft by taking a motor vehicle.
Zabaleta said narcotics detectives received a tip that Ulysse was in Miami-Dade County and was attempting to flee the country. Zabaleta said Ulysee jumped off a 15-foot embankment on the Palmetto Expressway while fleeing from police.
No injuries were reported during the pursuit and takedown of Ulysse.