Theft suspects arrested after dramatic escape at open drawbridge, police say
NORTH BAY VILLAGE, Fla. – A police pursuit took a dramatic turn when a car trying to evade officers was forced to make a U-turn at an open drawbridge.
A video posted to Instagram shows the wild scene, as a red BMW turns around as a drawbridge opens and begins to drive opposite traffic down the shoulder of the bridge, followed by a police car.
North Bay Village police told WPLG that police were pursuing the three men in the BMW as part of an investigation into a multi-county catalytic converter theft ring. Police tried to stop the car, but the car sped onto the 79th Street Causeway.
Julie Leonardi, a spokesperson for the police department, told WPLG that the officers stopped pursuing for safety reasons, but because the bridge was up, police were able to catch up to the BMW, prompting the suspect to try to get away.
The three men are accused of leaving the car and then running away on foot before hiding in a condo’s trash room, WSVN reported.
Police found the suspects, identified as Demetrius Saunders, Kerven Rodriguez and Carlos Segarra, after witnesses reported seeing the men hiding, WPLG reported.
Demetrius Saunders (L), Kerven Rodriguez (R) and Carlos Segarra are facing theft charges.
Investigators found more than 30 stolen catalytic converters and two guns, one of which was reported stolen, in the car the suspects were driving, WPLG reported.
