A teenager from New York is facing serious charges for allegedly striking a Miami Beach officer with his vehicle then dragging him while trying to flee the scene.
Meshach Samuels, 18, of Brooklyn, New York was denied bond Monday on charges of attempted first degree murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer causing injury, and resisting an officer with violence.
Police say he was behind the wheel of a grey Mercedes seen on surveillance video speeding on Ocean Drive Saturday evening with a police officer hanging from the car.
According to the arrest report, officers patrolling on bicycles saw two vehicles racing each other.
Officer Eddie Alba stopped Samuels at the intersection of Ocean Drive and 7th Street around 10:45 p.m.
When Alba asked Samuels for his driver's license, Samuels told him he didn't have one, that he just had a New York issued ID card.
That's when police said Samuels took off, driving onto the sidewalk.
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Officer Alba reached into the car, grabbing Samuels' arm to prevent him from running people over on the sidewalk.
Alba was dragged about 250 feet then thrown from the car onto the street unconscious.
Paramedics rushed Alba to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center.
Miami Beach Police Chief Dan Oates said Alba suffered a concussion and a road rash.
"Officer Alba spent the night in the hospital and had all kinds of tests done," Chief Oates said. "And I'm happy to report that this afternoon he went home with his wife."
Police later arrested Samuels at a La Quinta Inn in Ft. Lauderdale and took him to jail.
Easton Stambury, Jr., 18, was the driver of the second car, and stayed at the scene. He was charged with reckless driving.
