Two-county police pursuit ends in bailout, one arrest in Lauderhill
MIAMI - A two-county high-speed pursuit through South Florida streets and highways ended Thursday afternoon with a bailout and an arrest in western Broward County.
Florida Highway Patrol cruisers had been in pursuit of a reported stolen white Honda Civic when the driver pulled into a Lauderhill apartment complex.
Three people were then seen getting out of the car and running away from police at Lauderhill Point apartments in the 3100 block of NW 19th Street.
Police set up a perimeter and arrested the driver. He was later transported to TGK.
Earlier in the day, Miami-Dade police located the Honda traveling north on the Turnpike in the area of Bird Road. It had been reported stolen out of Palm Beach County and police said it was used in the commission of property crimes.
MDPD attempted to stop the vehicle, but the vehicle fled and that is when the pursuit started.
FHP has taken over the investigation.
At last check, two passengers remain at large.
"Was I startled? [Brief pause] I was shocked," said a young man claiming to be the first cousin of the man who was arrested.
Channing Howard, 19, was the driver taken into custody by police.
The cousin shared a video he took, showing officers with weapons drawn searching for the three men.
"He was messing around and ran that way," said the cousin pointing to the center of the complex. "I was trying to figure out who was all with him."
He said he was unaware of what led to the chase.
Resident Anthony Pruitt said his boss called to alert him.
"I said I was getting ready to walk out my door," recalled Pruitt. "He said don't you walk out that door. Stay in your house. They got your complex all over the news."
Heavy police presence lasted until just before 7 p.m.
"I was somewhat really freaked out but not freaked out," added Pruitt. "Evidently, these apartments are always in the tabloids."
Pruitt and other residents tell CBS4 they want something to be done to make this community safer for their families. Saying, something terrible happens in this complex all the time.