Police-Involved Shooting in Miami Gardens

Miami Gardens Police have made an arrest after a man allegedly led a Hollywood Police officer on a chase that saw the officer shoot at the suspect before the suspect crashed into another car.

The Hollywood Police officer was on duty and in an unmarked car near the intersection of Northwest 199th Street and Northwest 3rd Court when the shot was fired, Miami Gardens Police said. The Hollywood officer said he was trying to conduct a traffic stop after seeing the suspect's car speeding.

Hollywood Police said the officer shot at the suspect, Varnelson Ceus, 23, after he tried to run over the officer.

Deloris Parks was driving in Miami Gardens when she came face to face with the entire incident. Her car was hit by Ceus, who being chased by the Hollywood Police officer. The officer then pulled up right behind the suspect’s car.

“Oh, God — I was crying, I was shaking,” Parks said, after she recounted the encounter.

“The police say, ‘Get out the car, get out the car!’ And the boy didn’t get out, and he popped right in front of me,” Parks said. “The car was still before me and [police said] ‘Get out of the car, get out of the car,' and he goes, 'Pop!' And the guy backed up a little bit and takes off, and he [goes] ‘Pow!’ again.”

Deloris said that at that point, the police asked her if she was okay. She answered yes, but she was still shaken up by the entire chain of events.

Ceus was charged with two counts, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, and hit and run with injuries.

If you have any information about the case, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477).

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