Cellphone Video Captures Tense Moments Of Deadly Officer-Involved Shooting
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – New cellphone video has been released from the deadly police-involved shooting in Northwest Miami-Dade.
The video captured the tense moments from Monday's incident at NW 57th Avenue just south of 183rd Street.
Miami-Dade police said they confronted a man who had stolen a car and were forced to fire when he wielded a machete and made threats.
Police said they hope to be able to release the man's name very soon. It's pending an autopsy at the Medical Examiner's Office.
Witnesses saw police pursue the driver and order him out of his car.
"He told the driver get out of the car. He didn't do anything. He didn't get out of the car," Mendez said. "The other police officers came and told him to get out of the car and then they pulled out a baton and broke the window."
Police said the man stole the car from a nearby car dealership and when they approached him and ordered him to get out of his car he refused.
"Officers approached the vehicle and attempted to make contact. He refused to obey verbal commands and they produced a baton to smash the window and make contact," explained Miami-Dade Police Det. Robin Pinkard. "He began making verbal threats a the officers and shots were fired."
Officers used batons to smash a car window. As they appeared to talk to the man, they say he wielded a machete and threatened them.
Police said two officers were forced to fire on him. He was transported to a hospital where he died.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is trying to determine if this shooting was justified.
The president of the police union believes the shooting was justified.
"This is a clear cut case of officers protecting their livestock to the fullest. There is no question about this one," Miami-Dade Police Benevolent Association President John Rivera said.
And Rivera said these officers had just seconds to make their decision.
CBS4's Peter D'Oench spoke to a manager at the car dealership where the car was stolen and may have been captured on surveillance tape. He told D'Oench no one there was allowed to comment.
The names of the police officers have not been released.
Its' expected they'll be given administrative duties pending the preliminary probe.
