Possible carjacking suspect taken into custody after pursuit through streets of northwest Miami-Dade
A massive investigation is underway in northwest Miami-Dade after officials say a possible carjacking suspect led deputies in a pursuit on Thursday afternoon.
The chaotic situation began to unfold late Thursday morning when Hialeah police said they received reports of a carjacking from the parking lot of Palmetto Hospital on West 68th Street.
Preliminary information indicated that a man was brought to the hospital by deputies under a Baker Act, and then fled the area shortly after arriving.
Once he was in the parking lot, police said the suspect approached the victim getting out of her car, and he forced himself inside and fled the scene.
Investigators then began to look for the vehicle, and it was eventually located in northwest Miami-Dade.
Video from above the scene showed numerous law enforcement vehicles from the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office and Florida Highway Patrol in pursuit of the vehicle.
During the pursuit, the driver, Hialeah police identified as Jordan Eugene Brown, 35, ran at least one red light, evaded officers who tried to block him, and nearly struck police vehicles. He also hit at least one other car.
Ysidro Reyes was one of the drivers hit. "They were chasing someone; no, he came through and hit me and hit a sign and kept going," Reyes said.
Law enforcement eventually performed a PIT maneuver, disabling the vehicle. Brown was then taken into custody.
Store clerk Ashley Bueso was working nearby when the chase came to an end. "The car was coming through here, and the police kind of hit it, and he was turned around and surprised, and I saw police on top of cars pointing guns," Bueso said. "It was kind of crazy as I saw a lot of them pursuing him."
Other witnesses described the moment FHP stepped in. "Once FHP came in they did a pit maneuver and flipped him around and got him," said a witness identified only as Luis.
Another witness, identified only as Nicole, said the scene was unlike anything she had seen. "All of a sudden they had to call state troopers to do a pit maneuver," she said. "I saw them do a pit maneuver here at 79 Street and 17 Avenue. This was crazy how they had to get him."
Dramatic video from the scene, captured by Rodolfo Hernandez, showed the suspect being removed from the vehicle as officers surrounded the car with weapons drawn.
It is not known why Brown continued to flee or what charges he will face. While Hialeah police say they were not involved in the police chase, they say they are investigating a carjacking and a hit-and-run that occurred in their city, but it is not confirmed that the Jackson Hospital carjacking is connected to the chase.