Security Video Released Of Downtown Miami Hotel Carjacking
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Ten hours after a carjacking at downtown Miami hotel, which four employees hospitalized, police arrested the man they believe was responsible.
Alberto Ruiz, 50, is facing a slew of felony charges including attempted murder.
Police said they were forced to shock Ruiz with a Taser when they went to take him into custody at the Ramona Motel on West Flagler Street in Miami around 8:40 p.m.
A motel employee witnessed the encounter between police and Ruiz.
"They (police) knocked on the door. He (Ruiz) opened the door and they told him to get on the ground," the employee said in Spanish.
Ruiz is being treated at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Click here to watch Summer Knowles' report.
Ruiz has been arrested numerous times for carjacking, drugs, burglary, second-degree murder and fleeing cops.
Wednesday's carjacking happened around 10:30 at the JW Marriott Marquis Miami on the corner of SE 4th Street and Biscayne Boulevard Way.
Shaun Elizabeth Sinclair-Stept pulled up in a silver Lexus 350 to the valet stand to have them park it.
The video released by police shows what happened next. Ruiz could be seen checking out the brand new Lexus that just pulled into the hotel driveway.
Then, he gets into the car as two employees are unloading bags from the trunk. He backs up and knocks them down.
Another employee tries to stop him.
The Lexus gets wedged between two cars.
After several minutes of employees trying to get Ruiz out of the car, he could be seen making his move.
With the car door still open, he can be seen ramming the car forward with people holding balloons frantically try to stop him.
Then, he reverses car pinning an employee against another car critically injuring him.
Ruiz then hits the gas again and drives off.
"It's certainly is an aggressive move," said hotel guest Jerry Sokol. "I've never heard of this before. Hopefully, this is an extremely isolated incident and doesn't change the way we handle valet in the future."
Police later found the Lexus abandoned at 643 SW 11th Street. Investigators reviewed the security video from in front of the hotel and recognized Ruiz as their man.
A childhood friend of Ruiz said he suspected Ruiz was possibly under the influence of drugs during the incident.
"He has a lot of problems, he lost his parents, he is not a normal kid, said Sergio Rivera.
Police believe Ruiz may be connected to a similar carjacking at a nearby hotel.
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