Miami-Dade Cop Comes Under Fire; Suspect Leads Police On Chase

MIAMI, FL — A suspected hit-and-run driver allegedly opened fire on a Miami-Dade police officer Saturday and then led police on a wild chase that spanned four South Florida counties before suffering a self-inflicted gunshot wound and spinning into a guardrail. The initial crash occurred at SW 336 Street and U.S. 1 in Florida City. Police said multiple people were injured in the crash.

Traffic was backed up in both directions of the Florida Turnpike as a result of the police activity.

The suspect was identified by Martin County Sheriff William Snyder as 29-year-old Michael Sardinas of Broward County. "As he pitted the car, it went into a 360-degree spin," according to Snyder. "Before it hit the guardrail, a gunshot went off inside the car."

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According to Florida Department of Law Enforcement records, Sardinas was convicted in 2012 of sexual battery on a victim 12 0r 0lder who was physically helpless

"He's on some kind of felony release from a prison system and he is listed as a high-risk sex offender," according to the sheriff.

Detective Alvaro Zabaleta of the Miami-Dade Police Department told Patch that Miami-Dade ground units chased the driver of the gray Chevrolet through Broward, Palm Beach and Martin Counties while a police helicopter followed high above the northbound lanes of the Florida Turnpike.

“As the officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle, the driver fired several shots at the officer and continued fleeing northbound on the Florida Turnpike,” Zabaleta explained.

Zabaleta said that police caught up with the driver in Martin County.

“The vehicle came to a final stop at approximately mile marker 127,” according to Zabaleta. “As the officers approached the vehicle, they discovered the subject suffering from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.”

Photo Michael Sardinas of Broward County courtesy Florida Department of Law Enforcement