Suspect flees hospital hold, allegedly carjacks woman in parking lot
HIALEAH — A man brought to Palmetto General Hospital on West 68th Street under a Baker Act order allegedly forced his way into a woman’s vehicle in the hospital parking lot Thursday morning and fled, officials said. Hialeah Police and other agencies pursued the vehicle through northwest Miami‑Dade before the chase ended in a crash and the suspect’s arrest, authorities said.
Hialeah Police spokesman Lt. Eddie Rodriguez told reporters the man had been brought to the hospital by a Miami‑Dade Sheriff’s deputy under Florida’s involuntary psychiatric hold statute, which permits up to 72 hours of involuntary evaluation and treatment for people in mental‑health crisis. After the deputy left the facility at 2001 West 68th Street, the man ran away, Rodriguez said.
When the man reached the hospital parking lot, he “ran up to a woman getting out of her car and forced himself inside and drove off,” Rodriguez said. Authorities said the victim sustained no physical injuries, and paramedics checked the woman at the scene.
Multi‑agency pursuit through northwest Miami‑Dade
The vehicle, described by aerial news footage as a black Nissan Sentra, was pursued across roadways in northwest Miami‑Dade Thursday afternoon. The chase involved Hialeah police officers, Miami‑Dade Sheriff’s deputies and Florida Highway Patrol troopers. Multiple attempts to stop the Sentra with PIT maneuvers damaged the vehicle but did not immediately halt it.
Witnesses at the scene expressed concern for public safety during the pursuit. “Somebody could’ve really been hurt, he was going on the opposite side of traffic too, head on,” said Nicole Rodriguez. Another witness, Ashley Bueso, described seeing officers repeatedly strike the car as it continued to flee.
“It’s crazy because I seen a lot and they were like, they had been pursuing him, they had hit his car too and he kept going.”
Florida Highway Patrol troopers eventually used a PIT maneuver that caused the Sentra to spin and crash near Northwest 17th Avenue and 79th Street. Authorities detained the driver at that location; officials later confirmed the person taken into custody was the same man who had escaped from the hospital earlier, though they have not released his name.
What officials have said and what remains under investigation
Police said the initial contact with the man occurred when a Miami‑Dade deputy brought him to Palmetto General under the Baker Act. Hialeah Police emphasized the man did not escape from the deputy’s custody; he fled after the deputy left the hospital premises.
No identifying information or booking details have been released publicly. Authorities said there were no reported injuries to the carjacking victim. The incident remains under investigation by local law enforcement agencies.
- Location: Palmetto General Hospital parking lot, 2001 West 68th Street, Hialeah
- Law enforcement involved: Hialeah Police, Miami‑Dade Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol
- Outcome: Suspect captured after PIT maneuver and crash near NW 17th Ave & 79th St.
| Timeframe | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Man brought under Baker Act; flees hospital | Palmetto General Hospital, W. 68th St. |
| Shortly after | Alleged carjacking in hospital parking lot | Hospital parking lot |
| Afternoon | Pursuit ends in crash and arrest | NW 17th Ave & 79th St. |
The case highlights questions about procedures when individuals are transported for psychiatric evaluation. Under Florida law, the Baker Act allows involuntary detainment and assessment for people deemed a danger to themselves or others, but the circumstances of this incident — including how quickly the suspect was able to flee from hospital grounds — have drawn attention from neighbors and witnesses.
Hialeah authorities have not released charges or additional details about the suspect’s condition. Police said the investigation is ongoing and that updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Residents with information about the incident were asked to contact Hialeah Police. For now, the arrest concluded a pursuit that temporarily disrupted traffic and alarmed nearby motorists and bystanders.
