Family Of Teen In Two-County Chase Speak After Court Appearance
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A teen charged in a two-county chase that caught the attention of people across South Florida decided not to appear in bond court on Wednesday.
It began in South Dade, sped into Broward and finally ended in Miami Gardens. Behind the wheel of the white 2013 Chevy Tahoe, police said, was 15-year-old Alan Moss.
"I'm so sorry what happened. I was like in shock to see the chase. I was really in shock," said Denise Johnson.
Johnson is the teen's grandmother. She didn't want to show her face.
She watched the chase like everyone else, and was stunned to learn it was her grandson who's accused of being behind the wheel of the stolen car.
"That's one thing, I'm almost 60 Mr. Scouten, and I don't take it from nobody when they're wrong," she said. "When you right, I got your back. He was wrong for what he did, but we cried out for help. It's a shame the system failed."
Johnson said the teen has a drug problem, and they've been trying to get him help.
"He should have been in rehab. Like I say, when you're on drugs, you're not normal, the drugs telling you to do things. That's why we cried out for help," she explained.
In court, Moss' mom stood before a judge along with another relative.
They heard the charges against him as a judge decided whether or not to hold Moss in juvenile lock up.
He was facing charges of grand theft (auto), fleeing and eluding, aggravated assault and no valid driver's license.
"He will be in secure detention for 21 days," the judge stated.
"He just made a lot of mistakes, that all. He just made a lot of mistakes," said one of Moss' relatives.
After court, a relative said this car theft and chase is out of character for Moss.
"He was a good child, he was a good football player. He was an honors student. You know he just started hanging with the wrong crowd and just made a lot of bad mistakes," his relative said.
Click here to watch the tense ending to the chase.
