Police Chase Ends on Univ. of Miami Campus

Multiple bystanders sustained minor injuries and an officer fired his weapon during the chase.

A dangerous police chase ended when a fleeing suspect was arrested on the University of Miami’s campus Tuesday.

Richard Grissom-Rodgers, 21, was arrested around 7 p.m. after leading police on a car and foot chase on campus and allegedly attempting to hit an officer with his car.

The incident began when an automatic license plate reader alerted Coral Gables police that the vehicle Grissom-Rodgers was driving near the campus was stolen, according to the Miami Herald.

As officers walked up to the vehicle, which was stuck in traffic, police say the suspect drove the car over a median directly toward the officers. The car did not hit the officers but Grissom-Rodgers attempted to slam the vehicle into a police cruiser and struck two other vehicles, reports wsvn.com.

At some point during that incident, an officer fired his weapon into the suspect’s vehicle but didn’t hit Grissom-Rodgers.

Police say the suspect continued to drive until he was across the street from the university’s Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.

“The suspect exited his vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, into the UM baseball field,” Coral Gables Police Department spokesperson Kelly Denham said. “Our officers gave pursuit on foot and apprehended him without incident.”

Before the arrest, the suspect jumped a fence onto the ballpark and then jumped another fence to exit the park. He was taken into custody along fraternity row.

Two drivers sustained minor injuries in the crash and Coral Gables police officer Alex Toledo broke his hand during the pursuit.

Richard Grissom-Rodgers faces charges including premeditated first-degree attempted murder on an officer, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault on law enforcement and grand theft.

“He intentionally tried to run over an officer,” Denham said.

Grissom-Rodgers, who has a history of weapons possession and vehicle theft convictions, has been denied bond.

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