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Police Find Drowned Man After Responding To Burglary Call

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MIRAMAR (CBSMiami) -- It was a tragic end for a man who jumped into a canal overnight and didn't resurface alive.

Miramar Canal Drowning
A burglary call in west Broward ended with rescue divers pulling a body from a canal on the county line. (Source: CBS4)

It happened Thursday at N.W. 202nd Street and 67th Avenue near the Dade-Broward County line.

Authorities identified the deceased victim as Rasheed Smith, 34.

"Around 4:45 a.m. I woke up to the sounds of a man screaming," said Armando Latour, who lives behind the canal. "And when I came downstairs, and I saw what was going on, the individual was already underwater. The cops were using their flashlights to try to spot him."

He shot cell phone video of the search.

"The helicopter actually arrived and they used the flood light to point into the canal," he said. "When they did that, they could clearly see the body, so they took him right out."

Miramar Police were responding to a call from a homeowner in the gated Vizcaya community, reporting that someone was trying to break into a car. When officers arrived, they saw Smith run across Honey Hill Drive and disappear into the canal.

At least a dozen car break-ins have occurred in the neighborhood in the last six months.

"We are not safe," said one concerned resident. "Although we have cameras and security and the police around, but you're never too sure what's taking place."

Miramar Burglary Suspect
This photo of a burglary suspect has circulated around the Vizcaya community in Miramar concerning vehicle break-ins. (Source: Richard Lugo)

Residents are now left wondering if the man in the canal is connected to the car burglaries.

"It's been a month and a half and we've received emails that say 'be alert,'" said Vizcaya resident Richard Lugo, who also shared a picture of a burglary suspect trying car door handles that's been circulating in the community.

However, police said no vehicles had been burglarized Wednesday night.

Since the canal was on the southern side of the county line, Miami-Dade Police are handling the investigation.

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