Miami-Dade police cruiser rammed by getaway car

Police say man backed car into cruiser after shoplifting from Walmart

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A Miami-Dade police cruiser was rammed by another vehicle as a shoplifting suspect attempted to get away, police said.

The incident was reported Thursday morning near Northwest 177th Street and Northwest 57th Avenue.

Miami-Dade police said an off-duty police officer was sitting in his cruiser at a nearby Walmart when a security guard flagged him down and pointed to a man suspected of shoplifting getting into a red car in the parking lot.

When the officer pulled up next to the red car, got out and knocked on the window, the man put the car in reverse, backed into the cruiser and sped away.

Sky 10 was above the crash scene as the cruiser was stopped in a parking lot. A front bumper, detached headlight and hubcap to the red car were on the ground next to the cruiser.

The man was last seen driving south on Northwest 57th Avenue.

Police said the officer wasn't hurt.

It's unclear how much merchandise the man got away with, but police said he left behind a large flat-screen TV that he didn't have time to load in his car.

Anyone with information about the man's identity is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.


About the Author:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.