Three Charged In Wild Chase, Shooting In SW Dade Canals
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Three men taken into custody after leading police on nearly a wild, hour-long chase through several southwest Miami-Dade canals have now been officially charged.
Joseph Shephard, 37, Mark Hartman, 25, and Lee Hartman, 24, are expected in bond court sometime on Friday on charges of Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer with a firearm, Improper Exhibition of a firearm and Fleeing/Eluding on a boat.
According to the police arrest affidavit, the men were in a small boat shooting at ducks in a canal, located in the 1300 block of SW 76th Court around 1:20 a.m. A police officer who lives in area heard the gunfire and called it in to police dispatch.
When officers arrived and approached the boat, the affidavit states the men took off and refused to stop.
Miami-Dade police launched a helicopter and officers in the area assisted in the chase. Police officers in cars and stationed on bridges tried to stop the boat at several locations, however, the police said they fired shots at officers who had taken tactical positions on the bridges and several officers returned fire.
"These individuals were shooting at officers who were driving along the road. This is all a residential neighborhood that this occurred in," said police spokeswoman Rosanna Cordero-Stutz. "They were putting the community in grave danger by shooting at the officers in such a manner."
Several officers fired their weapons at the suspects.
Nobody was hit.
It all came to an end in the area of SW 112th Avenue and 69th Street, Snapper Creek Canal, and taken into custody.
Mark Hartman was treated for a minor injury, possibly the result of a bullet graze.
The affidavit states firearms were found in the boat.
All three men were taken to the Dade County Jail to be booked.
