A Miami Gardens police officer found himself in a nasty fight inside his squad car early Wednesday morning after a crazed man forced his way into the car's window and tried to steal the cop's gun.
The bizarre attack happened outside a gas station on Northwest 199th St. and 37th Ave. around 6 a.m., and ended when the car drove straight into a light pole.
According to police, the officer was parked on the side of the street filling out paperwork from a previous incident when he noticed a suspicious man walking towards him. The man, identified as 22-year-old Michael Smith of Opa Locka, then started running towards the car and abruptly dove into the driver-side window and tried to steal the officer's gun.
Police say the car was in drive and the scuffle caused the cop to hit the accelerator. The car crashed into a nearby light pole and the officer's gun was fired.
No one was hit by the bullet, but the fight continued inside the cop car. A gas station clerk, who heard the crash, went running outside.
"When I went outside I saw the cop screaming, 'help! help!' and I went inside to grab my phone and call 911," said Abubakar Pasha.
Pasha said he went back outside after he called the police to try and help. He says that the officer, in an attempt to keep the gun away from Smith, handed it off to him. Once back-up arrived, Pasha gave the gun back to police.
Local
When police searched the cop car for evidence after the accident, they found a black ski mask that the suspect allegedly dropped during the struggle.
Smith was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital for evaluation and was arrested once he wa released. he is charged with attempted first-degree murder or a law enforcement officer and armed burglary.
