Police Involved Accident Kills Davie Bicyclist
DAVIE (CBSMiami) – Davie police are investigating the death of a bicyclist who was struck and killed by an on-duty Pembroke Pines police detective.
Davie police said detective Mike Pazienza was driving an unmarked police cruiser westbound on Stirling Road when he struck 47-year old Doug Beebout on a bike near NW 66th Avenue around 9:15 p.m. Monday.
"I heard a big boom," said Willie Cardona. "I said, 'Oh, somebody blew their tire'."
When Cardona ran to see what the 'big boom' was, he saw that someone had been hit by a car but he had no idea it was his friend Doug Beebout, a guy he was hanging out with just moments before the accident.
"This is my friend, we were supposed, that I was supposed to work with today. I couldn't even recognize him because his body was all discombobulated."
According to investigators, Pembroke Pines police detective Mike Pazienza was on-duty at the time. Police believe Beebout rode his bike in front of the detective's unmarked car.
"He was crossing the roadway nowhere near any crosswalk or anything like that. I haven't spoken to any of the witnesses, the investigation is ongoing, but I would be likely to believe that he just crossed the road in front of the officer," said Davie police Captain Dale Engle.
Cardona said moments before Beebout was hit, he hadt a few beers and planned on a night at home on the couch.
"His back was hurting from the last job we did. We were laying tiles, laying some landscaping, tree trimming and he hurt his back," said Cardona. "He just wanted to go home, eat, take some beers and watch the game."
One witness said at the time of the accident, the officer appeared to be speeding. The officer reportedly did not have his emergency lights or siren on at the time of the crash.
"It's unbelievable," said Jason Reynolds who saw it happen, "They're here 'to serve and protect' and here they are hitting a man on a bicycle. Pedestrians always have the right away."
Pembroke Pines police have not said what the officer was doing in Davie at the time of the accident.
