Police Chase Ends With Take Down In Miami
MIAMI (CBS4) - A police chase in Miami-Dade County came to an end at a Miami apartment complex early Thursday evening.
Miami-Dade Police Detective Roy Rutland says it began when the suspect, identified as Luther Henry, 37, assaulted a police officer near Northwest 68th street and Northwest 19th Avenue by attempting to run him over with a white Ford Taurus. Henry then allegedly took off in the Taurus.
From Chopper 4, the Taurus was seen weaving in and out of traffic on surface streets in North Miami-Dade before going southbound on Interstate 95. Officers say they followed Henry until he entered the highway, but stopped due to the hazard it presented to other drivers on the roadway.
He ultimately exited the highway at Northwest 8th Street and came to a stop near an apartment complex just east of 7th Avenue.
Chopper 4 was above the scene as the suspect ran through the neighborhood, found an unlocked door and entered one of the buildings. Police say the he dropped drugs on the ground before going into the building and when searched, had cocaine in his sock.
Officers set up a perimeter in the area and slowly approached the apartment he was seen entering.
A woman and small girl were taken out of the apartment before officers stormed in with guns drawn.
"The lady opened the door then the man came with the baby. They said, 'get the hell out -- get the f-out'. They grabbed him, threw him on the floor handcuffed him they hit him too," said witness Frank Toledo.
"I heard couple officers say 'we see you peeking out of the window. Open the door', they said 'we're going to kick the door down if you don't open the door'," said witness Nashombia Thompson.
Henry put up a fight before he was handcuffed.
Det. Rutland tells CBS4 News that he was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital to be treated for injuries sustained in the take down. He did not have information of the condition of the officer who was assaulted before the chase began.
Slideshow: Chase and Take Down
Police say Henry has a long history of traffic violations and violent crimes. A search of the Florida Department of Corrections showed Henry has been in and out of prison since 1992, serving for various crimes including burglary, resisting arrest with violence, and drug infractions.
