Two Men Ram Police Car With Tow Truck In Miami-Dade

MIAMI, FL — Two Miami men were charged with attempted murder Wednesday after they allegedly rammed a Miami-Dade police car with a tow truck. Police said the pair were attempting to get away with a stolen Ford-150 pickup truck at the time. The incident happened around 3 a.m. at SW 84 Avenue and SW 16 Street.

Twenty-six-year-old Yariel Valdespino Rodriguez and 32-year-old Sergio Aguirre were also charged with grand theft, resisting an officer and other offenses.

"A uniform officer observed a tow truck hauling a silver Ford F-150 without the amber lights activated and safety chains attached," explained Detective Alvaro Zabaleta of the Miami-Dade Police Department. "The officer attempted to stop the tow truck, however, the driver — Yariel Valdespino Rodriguez — did not stop and disengaged the pick-up from the tow truck while in motion."

Zabaleta credited the officer's instincts with stopping the men from getting away with the pickup.

"He did not have his lights on," said Zabaleta. "It just seemed odd to the officer."

Officers tried to stop the tow truck twice before the pair were taken into custody.

"A second attempt to stop the tow truck, resulted in the driver lowering the tow bar and driving in reverse at a high rate of speed, striking the patrol car," Zabaleta said. "A police pursuit ensued and the tow truck came to a stop in the area of SW 35 Street and S.W. 89 Avenue."

Valdespino Rodriguez and Aguirre allegedly abandoned the tow truck and ran from police.

"A perimeter was immediately established and with the assistance of aviation and K-9 units, both subjects were apprehended without incident," Zabaleta added.

The police officer was not injured.

Yariel Valdespino Rodriguez (left) and Sergio Aguirre photos courtesy Miami-Dade Police Department