16-year-old dies in police custody following pursuit that ended in Miami-Dade County

Witnesses describe extremely rough arrest by responding officers

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. ā€“ The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating after a 16-year-old boy died Sunday night following a police chase that started in Hollywood and ended in Miami-Dade County.

According to Miami-Dade police, Hollywood police officers were chasing the teen, who was suspected of carjacking someone and then fleeing with the victimā€™s vehicle ā€“ a black 2018 Alfa Romeo.

Police said the Miami-Dade Police Departmentā€™s helicopter provided air support as the teen led officers into the Northside District, where he crashed the stolen car in the area of Northwest 27th Avenue and 62nd Street around 9:35 p.m.

Authorities said the teen was taken into custody by Hollywood police.

Witnesses who did not want to give their names shared video of the arrest with Local 10 News.

The video, which can be seen in reporter Terrell Forneyā€™s report at the top of this page, may be dark and grainy, but the witnesses who shot it are adamant about what they saw.

ā€œYou could see them just kicking him in the head, kicking him in the side, kicking him everywhere, and it was just total shock,ā€ one of the witnesses said.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews also responded to the area and treated the teen at the scene, police said.

Authorities said the teen was handed over into the custody of Miami-Dade police, and at some point, he became unconscious.

Police said he was then transported by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue to Hialeah Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

ā€œI just saw them in a rage, pulling this person out and just kicking him in the head, kicking him in the stomach, kicking him everywhere,ā€ the witness said.

A cause of death has not been released.

The teenā€™s identity is also being withheld by authorities at this time.


About the Authors

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

Terrell Forney joined Local 10 News in October 2005 as a general assignment reporter. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, but a desire to escape the harsh winters of the north brought him to South Florida.

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