Two Miami-Dade Police officers are out of the hospital after their patrol car was struck by a driver who has worked as a bodyguard for pop star Justin Bieber.
Officers responded to the scene near Kendall Drive and SW 152nd Avenue shortly before 3 a.m. after reports that the police car had been struck. The two officers in that vehicle were able to radio in the crash as others responded.
Both officers were taken to area hospitals - one having to be airlifted - before being released later in the morning.
The driver of the white Chevrolet Tahoe SUV that was involved, 32-year–old Michael Arana, was captured five blocks from the scene. Police say they smelled an odor of alcohol coming from his car and placed Arana under arrest on charges that include DUI and leaving the scene of an accident with injuries.
Arana, who the Miami Herald reported has served as director of security for Bieber, admitted to officers he had been drinking and a search found several receipts in his pocket showing alcohol purchases earlier in the evening, an arrest report said. Arana refused to submit to a blood test before being placed under arrest, the report said.
Arana was booked into jail where he was being held on $14,500 bond Thursday. Attorney information wasn't immediately available.
Records showed Arana has been arrested twice before in Miami-Dade County but charges were dropped in both cases. Kendall Drive remained closed for several hours while officers investigated the crash.
