Career Criminal Taken Into Custody After Report Of Shots Fired
HOLLYWOOD (CBSMiami) – Hollywood Police have taken a career criminal into custody by using a type of diversion explosion to distract him after earlier reports of shots being fired.
Police originally responded to a report of gun shots coming from inside one of the apartment units at 2915 Pierce Street. Residents in the building said they heard a total of four gun shots.
"We heard gunfire, shooting, like four or five times I guess, the guy started shooting," said Angelina Tozzi who heard the gunfire.
Police spokesman Gene Cochenour said they received call about gun shots coming from inside one of the units at 2915 Pierce Street. Residents of the building said they heard four gun shots.
When officers arrived, Cochenour said they found bullet shell casings but did not specify where they were found.
Hollywood Police surrounded the Hollywood apartment building and began to search for the suspect, later identified as Nelson A Tomattis, inside the apartments.
Several people who live in the building reportedly told police they heard shots and then what sounded like something or someone drop to the floor, according to CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald.
Residents of the apartment complex were evacuated. Tomattis' girlfriend and a child, who police originally thought may have been in the apartment, were later found elsewhere.
Police said Tomattis has been arrested 29 times in the past; some of the charges were for violent crimes.
A SWAT team was called in as a precaution. Police tried to make contact with the man throughout the morning, but had no luck.
"He put himself into a smaller room and the SWAT team made a decision to go in and isolate that room once they isolated him into that room," said Sgt. Lester Cocherour. "They threw another distraction device and they used an impact munition to subdue him."
