Dashcam video shows police chase that began in Miami Beach, ended in crash in North Miami

NORTH MIAMI, Fla. — Dramatic dashcam video of a police chase that ended in a crash in North Miami earlier this year was obtained Monday by Local 10 News.

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Two men were initially taken into custody March 21 following the chase that began in Miami Beach, although it appears only one of them was arrested.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Miami Beach police officers initially tried to stop a blue Mercedes SUV just after 7 p.m. on March 20, but the driver fled westbound on the Dolphin Expressway.

Hours later, after a be-on-the-lookout alert was issued, police said they spotted the SUV again on Ocean Drive, where the driver abruptly veered into a bike lane in an apparent attempt to evade officers.

FHP officials said troopers later intercepted the vehicle on Interstate 95. They confirmed the driver exited at Northwest 119th Street, where he crashed the SUV into another vehicle but continued fleeing.

Authorities said the pursuit ended when troopers performed a PIT maneuver on Northwest Seventh Avenue near Northwest 129th Street in North Miami.

Authorities later righted the vehicle and loaded it onto a tow truck.

Both occupants were taken into custody without further incident, and a gun was recovered from the vehicle, according to investigators.

Authorities said that during the pursuit, a trooper discharged a gun toward the SUV, but no one was struck and the vehicle was not hit.

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Jail records obtained by Local 10 News listed the suspect who was arrested as 24-year-old Tavaris Laughvon Palacios, of Fort Lauderdale.

Records show he is facing two counts of fleeing or eluding a police officer, and one count each of aggravated fleeing or eluding after a crash, leaving the scene of a crash with no serious injuries, reckless driving, failure to obey a law enforcement officer and not having a valid driver’s license.

According to his arrest report, Palacios has an “extensive criminal history” of felony and misdemeanor offenses in Miami Beach, which led to his license being revoked.

Police also noted in the report that the incident occurred “during a high-impact weekend in the city of Miami Beach, with a significant increase in visitors due to spring break activities and special events.”

They said there was a “large volume of pedestrian traffic in the Ocean Drive area at the time of the incident, creating additional public safety concerns.”

Authorities confirmed that the vehicle involved in the chase was impounded by FHP.

As of Tuesday morning, Palacios remained behind bars at the Metrowest Detention Center.

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