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Suspected Serial Shoplifter Escapes, Later Captured In North Lauderdale

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Shots rang out in the parking lot of a Target store in Aventura when police and loss prevention personnel moved in to stop a serial shoplifter.

The suspect got away, but police said Tuesday afternoon that the suspect, 30-year-old Jimmy J. Daniel, was located in North Lauderdale where he was hiding inside a car in a friend's garage.

Aventura police said the man was in the store at 212th Street and Biscayne Boulevard when he put an electronic device down his pants and walked out of the store. Outside he was confronted by three police officers.

The suspect then made a run for it with the officers on his heels. He jumped into his car, a black Acura TL, and backed it up almost hitting two of the officers.

"He was given verbal commands to get out of his car, at which point he attempted to run over two of our officers," said Adventura police captain Michael Bentolila.

CLICK HERE to watch Gary Nelson's report

Cops opened fire.

"The back window was blown out," Bentolila said.

Bentolila said it's not known if anyone in the car was hit.

"Our officers were not hurt, and no individuals here on the scene were hurt," Bentolila said.

Evidence markers at the scene indicated upwards of two dozen shots were fired.  It sent folks in the parking lot ducking for cover.

"I heard the shots, and I just laid down near a car when I heard the shots because I knew it was dangerous," one woman told CBS4 News.

Felipe Salazar was just leaving a Best Buy down the way in the strip mall.

"Just bullets. I heard bullets like firecrackers, and then I saw people running," Salazar said.

Police were able to get the car's license plate number and later arrested Daniel.

Daniel was taken into custody without incident. The US Marshalls will return the arrestee to Miami-Dade County for prosecution.

Aventura police say department policy allows officers to fire on a vehicle if it is being used against them as a weapon.

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