Brian Hamacher

Miami Gardens Police Chief Arrests Fleeing Fraud Suspect

A man who allegedly tried to use a fraudulent credit card to make a pricey purchase at a Miami Gardens electronics store was busted by the city's top cop.

Police Chief Antonio Brooklen happened to be in the BrandsMart USA store on June 16 when the man, 26-year-old Alvaro Miranda Acosta, tried to use a card with someone else's name to buy an Apple computer, officials said.

Brooklen, who visits stores in the city as part of a community initiative, chased down and arrested Acosta, who took a swipe at him and tried to flee, officials said. Store surveillance video showed Brooklen tackling the suspect to the ground.

"I'm looking at him like 'I can't let him get away, I have a reputation, if I let him get away I'm never gonna hear the end of it,'" Brooklen said. "It was like trying to hold onto a wet fish, he was just slipping away."

Brooklen said he couldn't remember the last time he made an arrest but said he was happy to get his man this time.

"I'm sitting there saying 'how can I ask for help and do these things when I'm not willing to do it myself,' and that's why I was so eager to make sure I got this person into custody," he said.

The suspect faces charges including fraud and battery on a police officer.

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