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Teen Punched, Threatened By Ex-Cop Over Car Sounds: Pembroke Pines Police

Ex-cop charged with charged with aggravated assault with a weapon and aggravated battery

A Pembroke Pines teen is still rattled after his neighbor, a former police officer, allegedly pointed a gun at him and threatened his life Monday.

Tyler Muraida, 19, was driving his black Honda convertible in the Pembroke Shores community when he was confronted by an angry and armed Mario Perez, according to a police report. Perez yelled profanities at the 19-year-old and his 15-year-old friend, who was in the passenger seat.

Sources told NBC 6 that Perez is a former Hialeah Police officer. He was employed for six years and had several disciplinary issues before being fired in 1994.

In an exclusive interview over the phone, Muraida said he was in fear on his life.

"He was following me. I was just trying to get away," said the 19-year-old.

Muraida said Perez did not like the sound of his car and chased him out of the subdivision, but the victim was stopped at the security gate and that's when things took an ugly turn.

"He came out he pulled a gun out, put it to me, pointed it in my direction, started threatening me, saying all kinds of curse words," Muraida recalled.

Perez ordered the 19-year-old to turn off the car and remove the keys, according to a police report.

"And, he's like, 'Don't move. If you keep moving, I'm going to put three in you," Muraida said.

The suspect then punched Muraida, walked over to the passenger side and ordered the 15-year-old to pick up the keys at gunpoint, police said.

"He said 'you have 10 seconds to put the keys back in the ignition or I'm gonna kill your friend,'" Muraida said over the phone.

Perez then hit the 15-year-old passenger in the back of the head with the handgun, causing minor swelling, a police report said. The 49-year-old suspect walked back to the driver's side and said "If I ever see you again, I'm gonna kill you" and struck Muraida in the face again, according to an arrest report.

Perez was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a weapon and aggravated battery. He was being held on $21,000 bond.

Detectives questioned a passenger in the suspect's vehicle, who sources told NBC 6 is Miami Police officer James Faris. He was off-duty at the time of the altercation and told Pembroke Pines police he was unable to see exactly what happened between the teens and Perez.

"Someone who is an active police officer should really step in and make sure that something wrong, like what happened would not have been done," Muraida said.

NBC 6 confirmed that Miami Police Department Internal Affairs is investigating.

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