A dirt bike rider tore through a crowded stretch of Miami Beach, mounted a sidewalk and struck a 10-year-old girl while fleeing officers, police say.
Video released by the Miami Beach Police Department shows the rider weaving through a large crowd on Ocean Drive as people scramble out of his path. At one point, people appear to be knocked down as the bike pushes through the packed area.
Police identified the rider as 29-year-old Mandrell Ceydrec Rolle Jr. Detectives did not catch him that night, but the department announced his arrest nearly two weeks later.
Rolle now faces charges of leaving the scene of a crash involving injury, reckless driving and resisting an officer without violence.
Into The Crowd
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The incident began around 7 p.m. Aug. 22 after multiple 911 callers reported four dirt bike riders speeding and riding recklessly along Collins Avenue in Miami Beach’s Art Deco District, according to Miami Beach Police.
The riders continued onto Ocean Drive and stopped in the 700 block. Officers approached on foot and took one rider, identified as Kasshun Williams, into custody.
Rolle instead fled despite commands to stop, police said.
During the escape, Rolle rode onto the sidewalk and struck the girl, who was there with her mother. The impact knocked her to the ground and injured her elbow and leg. Miami Beach Fire Department personnel treated her at the scene.
Rolle left without stopping to render aid.
Didn’t Get Away
Detectives subsequently identified Rolle and obtained an arrest warrant. Police also learned he was on federal probation for felony possession of a machine gun.
Rolle was arrested Sept. 2 with assistance from the City of Miami Police Department’s Tactical Robbery Unit. CBS Miami reported that his federal probation officer helped police track him down. CBS Miami also reported that police expect the girl to be OK.
“There is zero tolerance for reckless behavior that endangers the lives of our residents and visitors,” Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne A. Jones said.
As of Thursday morning, Rolle was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $2,650 bond, according to Local 10.