Driver Of Stolen Car Dead After Jumping In Doral Canal Trying To Elude Police
DORAL (CBSMiami) - The driver of a car stolen out of Hialeah, with a stolen license tag, died after he jumped into a Doral canal in an effort to elude police.
A Doral police officer spotted the stolen car early Friday morning on 97th Avenue and pursued it.
The car drove to 94th Avenue where the road ends at NW 14th Street, near the Encore Floral Marketing warehouse.
"In doing so the driver drove to an industrial park with a dead end. The driver then exited and fled near the canal," said Miami-Dade police Detective Khristopher Welch.
A perimeter was set up and several hours later police found his body in the water.
"Miami-Dade police divers pronounced him dead on the scene," said Welch.
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Police said the man was in his 20s, his name has not been released.
"I came here this morning, saw the police officers and I found out there was a dead person in the water. He had stolen a car and jumped in the water," said a worker named Reysel who works in the warehouse. "If you get pulled over you should stop. Police are going to get you either way. It's sad because he was a young kid."
CBS4's Peter D'Oench also spoke with another worker who said "I came in this morning and saw police officers here and I was a little worried because I work over here. Then I heard a young man had come into the parking lot and left his car here and jumped in the water. He was running away from police."
Since it is considered a death while in police custody, Miami-Dade police were called in.
"We're considering all possibilities at this particular point in time in the investigation and it goes where it takes us. We have to look at the big picture," said Welch.
The police are encouraging any witnesses to come forward.
"That's always a help with any of our investigations. If you see anything or see something, say something because our community can be responsible by doing so," said Welch.
Welch urged witnesses to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).
