Ex-MPD Sergeant Surrenders In Hit-And-Run
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A former Miami police homicide sergeant and TV star turned himself in to authorities for his involvement in an accident that left four University of Miami students injured.
A judge signed off on the warrant Wednesday for Juan "Johnny" Herrera, a longtime homicide investigator who retired after the Sept. 8 taxi accident, reports CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald.
Herrera will be charged with leaving the scene of an accident with injuries. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted.
Florida Highway Patrol investigators believe that Herrera rear ended the taxi on I-95 south near the Southwest 25th Road exit at about 3:40 a.m., then disappeared after leaving the car on foot. DNA taken from blood on the car's airbag eventually placed him behind the wheel of his Mercedes-Benz that night.
Investigators, who found a six pack of beer in the car, could never test Herrera's blood alcohol content because he was not at the scene.
Herrera is well known to viewers of The First 48, the A&E reality show that follows Miami homicide detectives as they investigate real-life murders.
"Mr. Herrera was a homicide Detective at the City of Miami for many years. He appeared on the show "The first 48" many times and has an amazing career in terms of investigating cases and being a very successful homicide Detective. I would hope that his career would be judged by the things that he did in a positive way rather than this one unfortunate incident," said Herrera's attorney Sam Rabin.
(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed to this report.)
