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Council Votes For FDLE Probe Into Mayor's Crash

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MIAMI LAKES (CBSMiami) -- Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi greeted those who attended a meeting set to determine if outside investigators should look into a crash he was involved in.

Town council members gathered Wednesday evening and voted unanimously to have the Florida Department Of Law Enforcement (FDLE) investigate Miami-Dade's handling of the crash. 

Some residents came down on the mayor during the meeting.

"When is it okay for you to hit a tree and run away," asked one resident.

Meantime, others came to his defense.

"I think it's really embarrassing that you guys decided to have a meeting about an accident," said another resident.

Witnesses said Pizzi left the scene and did not call police after crashing into a tree last month. More questions have been raised in regards to the accident after inconsistencies were found in his story. 

The mayor was not charged in the crash. Miami-Dade Police said the officers exercised their "discretion" but some said it doesn't pass the smell test.

Pizzi recused himself from the meeting but said he would stay for public comment.

The mayor has said  the call for an outside investigation is motivated by politics.  

"This is a case of political officials who spent a million dollars to keep me out of office and they lost the case and they can't stand the fact that they lost the case," said Pizzi.

It's not known how long the FDLE investigation would take or when it would begin.  

Councilman Ceasar Mestre said the city manager has to put in a formal request with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in order to begin the investigation.

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