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Dade Deputy Mayor Heads To Texas To Check On Injured Officer

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Miami-Dade deputy mayor Gernaro "Chip" Iglesias and police chief Juan Perez are on their way to Texas to personally check on a Dade officer who was stabbed by a prisoner he was escorting from Miami to Nevada.

Miami-Dade Police Detectives Jaime Pardinas, 54, and David Carrero were escorting Alberto Morales to Nevada when he became disruptive on the flight. During a layover in Houston, the officers were informed he would not be allowed to board another flight.

Pardinas and Carrero rented an SUV to drive Morales to Las Vegas where Morales was to begin serving two life sentences for sexual assault. They then drove to Dallas to await the arrival of a third Miami-Dade officer who would accompany them to Las Vegas.

While waiting for their colleague, they decided to make a detour to a 24-hour Walmart in nearby Grapevine to use the restroom, according to Miami-Dade police.

While Carrero was inside the store, Morales somehow managed to break his eyeglasses frame and use it like a dagger, pounding the weapon repeatedly into Pardinas' chest and back. When Carrero returned, Pardinas was bleeding and Morales was gone — possibly still in his handcuffs and shackles.

Pardinas was rushed to an area hospital in very serious condition. Police say he is doing well in his recovery.

"We're going to go visit him and the family and make sure all their needs are being met as well. I understand that the hospital is doing a phenomenal job, as well as the local authorities and the federal authorities, and state," said Iglesias as he prepared to depart from Miami International Airport Thursday morning.

Texas law enforcement agencies, the U.S. Marshals Service and additional Miami-Dade police officers who flew into Texas after the incident have tried to track Morales who now can add charges of attempted murder on a police officer and escape to his violent history.

As of Thursday, Texas authorities said they do not have any solid leads as to where he may be hiding.

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