Wild Police Chase Ends With Man's Death
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) - A police chase involved shooting near Ft. Lauderdale Friday ended with a man dead after his car ended up in a small wooded area just west of U.S. 441.
The Broward Sheriff's Office confirmed they are investigating a police-involved shooting and have said they are investigating their role in the death, said BSO Spokesman Mike Jachles.
Jachles said the man who died was in his 20's and was not from South Florida. He also said investigators found a large amount of narcotics in man's vehicle.
From what CBS4 has been able to gather it began about 3:30 pm Friday when police stopped a car near a restaurant parking lot – then shots were fired, causing patrons to hit the floor and owners to lock the doors at the Georgia Pig BBQ restaurant at 1285 South State Road 7.
Owner Wayne Anderson said the police were there "awhile," then "everything went bad."
Anderson said he heard people outside raising their voices and then shots being fired. He said the driver of the car forced his way out.
"(The driver) was crashing into the police cars to get out," Anderson told CBS 4's Carey Codd.
Pieces of a deputy's car and of the other car -- a Honda -- were laying in the driveway. A spent Taser was also laying on a sidewalk.
Jachles said the driver of the Honda refused to be detained and deputies first tried to Taser him, then as he rammed into deputies' cars, fired on him, striking him.
Car salesman Eddie Baquero works down the street from the restuarant. He said he saw the shots being fired.
"We started hearing like firecrackers and we came out, so it was BSO female shooting right straight to the restaurant," said Eddie Baquero, witness. "So, in the beginning like 2-3 shots, then it was 15-20 shots."
Witnesses say the Honda sped off westbound before crashing just off of Peters Road and 44th Terrace.
Friday evening investigators removed the body of the driver from the car, which was smashed in the front and side. A deputy's vehicle with it's front fender missing was also removed from the scene.
Whether the driver died from shots being fired or the impact of the accident remains unclear.
"This is something the medical examiner will have to determine,
Sheriff's Office Spokesperson Jim Leljedal said. "We don't know at this point exactly what the cause of death was."
BSO released few details other than saying an "extensive investigation" is underway. They also said several departments -- Homicide, Crime Scene and Internal Affairs -- are working the case.
At least one BSO deputy fired their weapon. It is protocol for an officer who fires their weapon to be placed on administrative leave for three days.
