MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A man was arrested Sunday for battery on a law enforcement officer and attempted kidnapping in northwest Miami-Dade, authorities said.
According to an arrest report, the man, identified as Yenier Cruz, 33, of Hialeah, was found by Miami-Dade police with his car stopped on Northwest 32nd Avenue, blocking traffic. A sergeant pulled up beside Cruz’s car and as he placed his car in reverse, he noticed Cruz hitting a woman, who was sitting in the driver’s seat.
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According to police, the victim opened the car door and started to ask for help. Cruz then jumped into the driver’s seat and proceeded to flee from the sergeant who was trying to pull him over.
The chase started with Cruz driving northbound on 32nd Avenue before heading to various other streets and disregarding serval traffic lights and all stop signs, police said. Cruz eventually crossed Northwest 57th Avenue, 42nd Avenue and 37th Avenue, according to the arrest form.
Police said its aviation crew joined the search and Cruz then began travelling east on Northwest 132nd Avenue from 38th Street, where mid-block Cruz noticed a police officer behind him so he proceeded to sideswipe his car, causing the officer to drive off the road and strike a raised concrete median.
Cruz then lost control of the car, going into the same direction of the officer and eventually hitting the officer’s car a second time, authorities said.
According to the report, Cruz exited the car in Opa-locka and dropped a clear plastic wrap which had 3 grams of suspected “crack rock” and money as well.
Police said Cruz tried to avoid capture but was then tackled and taken to the ground. He then laid on his stomach, refusing to place his hands behind his back, prompting officers to punch him in the head and shoulder, authorities said.
Cruz then surrendered and allowed the officers to handcuff him, the arrest report stated.
According to the report, police found four more small bags containing four grams of suspected crack cocaine on his car floor.
Authorities eventually went back and located the victim, who told police that Cruz was hitting her and touching her breast because he wanted sex. The victim also told police that Cruz was hitting, pushing, and shoving her as he attempted to put her in the passenger seat to drive off, the report stated.
Cruz faces four charges: one count of crack cocaine possession, one count of fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer, one count of battery on a law enforcement officer and one count of attempted kidnapping.
As of Monday, Cruz was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in lieu of a $6,500 bond. Records show that this is not Cruz’s first time facing charges, as previously he has faced one count of third-degree grand theft, one count of resisting an officer without violence and one count of criminal mischief.