Giovanni Raffo of Miami Beach, Florida was arrested Tuesday after he was accused fleeing police officers after a routine traffic stop, news sources report. Raffo, 26, reportedly struck one officer in the pursuit. He was booked into Miami-Dade County Jail on charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, fleeing and eluding a marked vehicle at a high rate of speed, and battery on a law enforcement officer. It is unclear whether he qualified for bail bond. So far, reports have not mentioned whether Raffo has hired a lawyer.
According to reports, the incident occurred around 10:30 Monday evening in the 1000 block of Ocean Drive. An officer reportedly witnessed Raffo driving without a seat belt and found his Mercedes to be obstructing traffic. The officer pulled Raffo over along Ocean Drive.
As the officer approached, he reportedly saw Raffo reach for the door of the car and grab for something under his seat. The officer removed his sidearm and told Raffo to exit his vehicle. Reports say Raffo instead put the car in drive and drove directly at the officer in what may have been an attempt to run him over. The officer was unhurt.
Raffo reportedly fled the scene in the northbound lanes of Ocean drive; however, two other officers caught up with him a short while later. Raffo again pulled over for the officers and waited until they approached his vehicle. Sources say Raffo then shifted into reverse and struck an officer's arm with a mirror. It is not yet known whether the officer was injured. Raffo allegedly fled the scene again and drove towards the Venetian Causeway.
Sources say Raffo approached a drawbridge, which was lowering. Raffo crashed into the bridge's draw sticks, then allegedly exited his car and jumped into the water below. Officers caught up with him at the Sea Isle Marina & Yachting Center's docks. It is not clear whether police found anything under the driver's seat of Raffo's car.
Raffo isn't the only South Florida man who attempted to flee officers recently. Patrick G. Carter of was arrested in Lake Worth after he allegedly escaped police custody in Broward County. Carter, 30, was booked back into police custody on charges of making a false police report and fraud. It is unclear whether he qualified for bail or hired legal representation.
According to reports, Carter escaped police custody from the Department of Correction in Broward County and fled to Lake Worth in Palm Beach. It is not yet clear what Carter was charged with or how he was able to escape. The Department of Correction has thus far remained silent regarding the incident.
On Saturday, Lake Worth police officers received a report that an unknown person was spotted in the backyard of a home in the 6600 block of Athena Drive. An officer arrived on the scene and located Carter sleeping in the resident's yard. Upon closer inspection, the officer notices Carter was wearing restraints around his wrists and ankles, sources say.