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Suspect, 15, in Custody After Chase of Stolen Vehicle Ends in Miami Gardens

An hour-long police chase that damaged several bystanders’ vehicles zoomed through two South Florida counties on Tuesday, ending in the arrest of a 15-year-old in Miami Gardens.

Witnesses who saw parts of the chase, which originated in southwest Miami-Dade, continued into Broward County, then returned to Miami-Dade, and the teen's arrest said they couldn't believe their eyes.

"He was driving reckless, (his) tire was blowing out, everything," Monique Byrd said.

The teen struck several civilian vehicles during the chase, but no one was seriously hurt, Miami Gardens police said. He's facing charges including grand theft auto, fleeing and eluding, aggravated assault and driving without a valid driver's license.

The suspect reportedly struck a Florida City unit and an unmarked Homestead police vehicle during the chase, which began around 12:45 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Southwest 162nd Avenue and Southwest 312th Street.

Miami-Dade Police said the white 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe was reported stolen shortly after noon in the 11900 block of Southwest 185th Street.

Officers spotted the stolen vehicle near Goulds Park and attempted a traffic stop but the suspect took off, police said.

The suspect passed Southwest 152nd Street headed northbound on the Turnpike where it splits up at 874. Aerial footage showed the vehicle headed northbound on the Palmetto Expressway at a high rate of speed.

The driver exited the Palmetto Expressway at the Northwest 37th Avenue exit in Miami Gardens and was seen driving against traffic.

At around 1:20 p.m., the driver was headed eastbound on Hallandale Beach Boulevard after turning from 54th Avenue. The driver had a tire blowout around 1:45 p.m. and continued to flee police despite riding on a metal rim in the rear.

Multiple police units boxed the suspect in and managed to apprehend him in Miami Gardens at approximately 1:50 p.m.

"I'm surprised he got that far being that young," witness Quantenae Robinson said. "It was him driving all the way down on a flat tire. He wasn't stopping for nothing, he was in it all the way."

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