Today's Miami Herald reports that a street has been blocked to traffic due to ongoing police activity in the area. Northwest Seventh Avenue between 19th and 21st Street has been closed as Miami police investigate a police chase that ended when a reportedly stolen Mercedes-Benz crashed into a building on Northwest 20th Street and Seventh Avenue.
The chase began shortly after 3 a.m. when two subjects tried to flee from police in a Mercedes-Benz that had been reported as stolen. They crashes into a building and then tried to run away on foot, but police were able to arrest them.
One of the subjects was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he was treated for a gunshot wound.
The suspects will like face grand theft auto charges, as well as charges for fleeing and eluding.
Fleeing and eluding is a third degree felony punishable by a maximum of 5 years in prison. The charge can be summarized as deliberately failing to stop when police are lawfully trying to pull you over. If the police are using their emergency lights or the speed of the chase is high, you can be charged with aggravated fleeing and eluding, which is a second degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Fleeing and eluding carries a mandatory adjudication (conviction) and a 1-year driver's license suspension.
Eric Matheny is a criminal defense attorney serving Miami-Dade and Broward. Call today to speak with Attorney Eric Matheny regarding your case or the case of a loved one.