Police Chase Led To Crash In Lauderhill, Two BSO Deputies Hurt, Driver Charged

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - A late-night accident involving several cars including a Broward sheriff's deputy sent four people to the hospital including two BSO deputies.

BSO spokesman Carey Codd told CBS4's Peter D'Oench that both of those deputies have been released and are going to be okay after suffering minor injuries but he is alarmed by the incident.

"This type of incident shows once again how dangerous the job of being a deputy or someone in law enforcement can be. When deputies respond to calls for service like this one or emergency calls to protect the public, they never know exactly what they are walking into. There is no such thing as a routine call. Deputies rely on their training and they are well trained to handle incidents like this incident. Two deputies were injured. Fortunately, their injuries were minor and they are going to be able to recover. Another driver was involved and did sustain injuries and it shows how dangerous these incidents can be," he said.

It all started just before 11 p.m. Tuesday night with a reckless driver in the middle of State Road 7 and Oakland Park Boulevard. That driver has been identified as 26-year-old Alfred Richardson.

"He had the intersection backed up in all directions," said a man who didn't want to be identified. "He was doing donuts. He was skilled. He was like a professional driver."

A BSO deputy who was on foot tried to make a traffic stop.

"The vehicle did initially stop. The deputy was on foot and at some point struck the deputy with the vehicle and then drove off," said Codd.

Other deputies gave chase until they reached Rock Island Road in Lauderhill. That's where Richardson caused a crash involving 6-7 vehicles including a BSO deputy's SUV.

Anthony Chatmon witnessed the wreck.

"We saw BSO and a gray car in a high-speed pursuit coming this way. That's when BSO stopped and let BSO pass through and we got off at the bridge. That's when I saw that car over there caught on fire, the BSO car that's smashed up. That's when they took the officer out and they put it out right after it went up in flames, the front part," said Chatmon.

Another witness, Tavares Morgan, shared a video with CBS4 that he had posted on his Instagram account, YungTV74.

"You see the guy's grey car going in circles and doing donuts," he said. "Then you see at least one deputy knocking on the window of his car and he takes off. I think this was crazy. This guy must have been on something. My heart goes out to the families of those injured. I mean this is terrible."

Richardson took off on foot but was taken into custody after a short chase. He along with two deputies and another driver involved in the crash were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Richardson is facing a number of charges including aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, reckless driving, aggravated fleeing, and leaving the scene of an accident with injuries.

Codd said, "These are some very serious charges."

Richardson came before a Judge in bond court on Wednesday afternoon where he was held on a $21,000 bond and was told he would not be able to drive.