Police: Teen's Gun Threat Prompted ATV Chase
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE (CBSMiami) -- Authorities have charged three teenagers following a wild off-road chase on ATV's in southwest Miami-Dade.
Miami-Dade Police said the incident first began with an aggravated assault on a 14-year-old when the three teenage suspects, riding ATV's, drove up to the victim and confronted him over a previous dispute.
One of them then pulled out a firearm and began to threaten the victim, who ran to a building and called 911.
When officers arrived, the suspects fled in different directions on their four-wheelers.
Two of them were apprehended by Miami-Dade Police officers.
Homestead Police grabbed the third suspect following a nearly 45-minute off-road chase through the rural parts of the area near the Homestead General Aviation Airport.
All three suspects are 16 years old and their parents stood in front of Circuit Court Judge Orlando Prescott a day after the incident, including the father of the teen accused of brandishing the gun.
"The court finds probable cause for aggravated assault. The victim was threatened by three individuals and the person alleges your son was the one who pulled out a gun and threatened to kill him," said Judge Prescott.
That teen was also accused of striking a marked police car and trying to hit other ones during his escape.
"He took police on a chase with his ATV and swerved at a police car and then used the ATV to hit a police car. And he refused to stop before he was arrested," the judge continued.
After the police pursuit and the alleged threats against the victim, all three teens were ordered to stay away from him and have no contact with him whatsoever, including social media.
They'll face another hearing on June 29th when prosecutors will determine whether or not they'll charge them as adults.