Miami Man Accused of Stealing Patrol Car With Rifle Inside

A Miami sergeant left the marked patrol car near Northeast Second Avenue and Northeast 55th Terrace at about 1:20 p.m. on November 3 and entered a convenience store. When the sergeant came back, the vehicle was missing. A department alert said the suspect had on a dark top and pale blue denim pants, and surveillance video showed a man fitting that description coming up to the car before driving off.

Around 3 p.m., a North Miami officer located the empty patrol car near Northeast 137th Street and Fifth Avenue. The sergeant’s department-issued rifle and ballistic vest remained inside. Miami auto-theft detectives arrived, and about 15 minutes later an officer detained Joseph nearby after seeing a man who fit the alert’s description.

Joseph told the officer he had taken the car and left it near his home. He was arrested and transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital to receive care for slight injuries to his hands, which were present before his arrest. The vehicle was impounded for forensic processing.

Joseph faces allegations of vehicle theft, firearm theft, breaking into an unoccupied vehicle and depriving an officer of protective equipment. On November 4, he was being held at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, and his bond had not been set.