Robbery Suspect Identified In Police Involved Chase, Shooting
MIAMI (CBS4) - Taking a man wanted for robbery into custody took a violent turn in western Miami-Dade after the man was shot to death by police after a short chase.
Late Wednesday, Miami-Dade Police identified the deceased at Edilberto Santana, 53. Police say he has an extensive criminal record.
This was a violent individual who was obviously being looked at by our robbery detective. They surveyed him, located him, identified him and of course once they tried to apprehend him this was the result," said Miami-Dade police spokesman Detective Alvaro Zabaleta.
According to investigators it began just before 1 p.m. on SW 124th Avenue when an officer located the man who was wanted on a robbery warrant. The officer tried to pull the man over, but police say he sped off with officers in pursuit. During the short chase, about three and half miles, the man drove onto a dirt road and then quickly ran out of room.
"Once he ran out of roadway he attempted to flee on foot. There was a confrontation with the officers at which point the officers started to fire their firearms striking the subject and he is deceased one the scene," said Zabaleta.
Zabaleta said it is unclear if the man had a weapon. The execution of a search warrant was delayed after the man's car caught on fire.
"It was very hot under the carriage and of course the dry grass started to catch the grass on fire and therefore we had to call the fire department to extinguish that," said Zabaleta.
Investigators are hoping the fire didn't destroy any crucial evidence and are questioning a woman who was riding in the passenger seat.
