MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A 28-year-old man faced about a dozen charges after deputies chased him on Sunday in Miami-Dade and Broward counties -- after chases in January and September.
The chase on Sunday started after Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a shooting, saw a car that was connected to a burglary, and ordered the driver to stop, records show.
Willex Baptiste, the driver of the black BMW 530i, matching the description of a Coral Gables Police Department’s be-on-the-look-out burglary alert, stopped on Southwest 264 Terrace, near 143 Avenue, according to deputies.
“A records check revealed the subject was wanted in Broward County for armed robbery/carjacking and homicide,” a M-DSO deputy wrote, according to an arrest report.
During the traffic stop, a deputy noticed a bottle of tequila before Baptiste “suddenly accelerated ... fled the scene at a high rate of speed,” and later entered the Florida Turnpike northbound, according to deputies.
A M-DSO helicopter followed Baptiste as he exited the Turnpike at Northwest 74 Street, took a red light, “forced civilian vehicles” out of a lane, and “struck the front passenger-side quarter panel” of a marked M-DSO vehicle, according to deputies.
Baptiste also struck another marked M-DSO vehicle and “dragged it backward” while accelerating, and he returned to the Turnpike to continue traveling northbound into Broward County, according to deputies.
Baptiste exited the Turnpike at Sheridan Street, turned to the Turnpike’s southbound ramp, traveled southbound on the Turnpike back to Miami-Dade County, and stopped just north of Northwest 41 Street, according to deputies.
Baptiste “refused to comply with verbal commands to exit the vehicle and was forcefully removed ... continued to actively resist arrest,” and “deputies delivered multiple strikes,” according to the arrest report.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel took Baptiste to Jackson South Hospital. Deputies later reported taking him to the warrants bureau for processing and to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
CHASE IN JANUARY
Doral police officers reported they were searching for stolen property on Jan. 9 when Baptiste was the subject of a police officer’s traffic stop, records show.
Baptiste got out of a silver Infinity, “ignored orders to get on the ground,” and “re-entered the vehicle and fled,” according to the police officer’s report.
After a chase, the police officer “disengaged and provided a be on the lookout for the vehicle via police dispatch,” according to a police report.
CHASE IN SEPTEMBER
On Sept. 17, Miami-Dade deputies saw Baptiste speeding in a 2011 gray Infiniti M37 and ordered him to stop near Southwest 152 Street and 117 Avenue, according to an arrest report.
A deputy stopped Baptiste, who then fled northbound on Southwest 117 Avenue, ran a red light, and got into the Florida Turnpike northbound, according to a deputy’s report.
The deputy reported losing sight of Baptiste, who drove at more than 120 mph. Miami Beach police officers arrested Baptiste shortly after 12:10 a.m. on Sept. 18 at Lenox Avenue and 18 Street, records show.
Miami Beach police officers reported Baptiste was “the subject of two warrants ... a suspended license with previous conviction,” according to an arrest report.
THE CHARGES
For the chase on Sunday, Baptiste faced charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police, aggravated fleeing or eluding with injury or damage, and resisting an officer without violence. His bond was $13,000.
For the Jan. 9 chase, Baptiste faced a charge of fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer. His bond was $2,500.
For the Sept. 17 chase, Baptiste faced charges of fleeing or eluding a law enforcement officer at high speed, reckless driving, speeding at over 50 mph, and knowingly driving without a license.
For the Sept. 18 arrest, Baptiste faced charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, grand theft of a firearm, and possession of marijuana.
Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Alberto Milian was set to preside over both cases.
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