Handcuffed Suspect Overpowers Officer

07-12-2000

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. -- An unexpected diversion enabled a handcuffed 
suspect to overpower his arresting officer and speed away in the officer's 
unmarked police car.

Just before 6 a.m. Monday, Officer Michael Muley and his partner, officer
Andrew Kuncas, arrested a man they believed to be Teddy Roberto De 
La Paz on an outstanding car theft warrant. Across the street, the officers 
saw a female whom they recognized as being wanted in an unrelated case.

When one of the officers left the vehicle to arrest the woman, the suspect
maneuvered his handcuffed hands to the front. He struggled with Officer Muley
and Muley fell to the ground. The suspect gained control of the drivers side of
the unmarked vehicle and attempted to run over Officer Muley. Muley fired his
service pistol once. Both missed and neither was hurt. The escapee now faces a
charge of attempted murder of a police officer when he is apprehended. Police
later discovered the De La Paz identity was false. The unmarked police car was
found blocking a construction trash bin behind a hotel under renovation.


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