A man and woman were taken into custody after they led police on a chase in a stolen car with two young kids inside that ended in a crash in Miami Sunday, officials said.
Miami Police said they spotted a black Volkswagen Passat speeding on Biscayne Boulevard and when officers ran the tag, it came back stolen.
Authorities said a chase ensued and ended with the car crashing into a tire inflation system at a gas station near Biscayne Boulevard and Northeast 34th Street.
The male driver and a female passenger were taken into custody. Police said two children, ages 1 and 2, were also in the car.
"I look out the window and I notice half of the city of Miami Police Department is here. I see cops everywhere, I see a man fighting with police and police are trying to detain him," witness Alex Gonzalez said. "The mother was worried about the kids. It's just unfortunate that that had to happen with kids in the car."
No one was injured in the incident.
"Thank God there was no one standing. These sidewalks are always full with pedestrians walking, people going to school, going to work so it's very lucky for the driver that he didn't hit anyone," Gonzalez said.
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Police later identified the couple as 23-year-old Cedric Cornelius Bethel and 21-year-old Hailey Jay Magiera. Bethel was charged with grand theft auto, fleeing or eluding police, multiple drug possession charges and child neglect. Magiera was also charged with child neglect.
The children were placed into the custody of the Department of Children and Families. Officials with DCF said there will be a shelter hearing for the children Monday afternoon.
