1 arrested after Miami street takeover, reckless driving – NBC 6 South Florida

Close-up video shows a street takeover and reckless driving display at a Miami intersection that ended in the arrest of at least one driver. 

The footage shows a gray sedan at NW 37th Avenue and NW 7th Street spinning and drifting as a handful of spectators watch and take videos. 

The car screeches into turns and burns its tires while a person hangs from the passenger-side window. After a few of these spins, an unmarked police cruiser turns on its lights and interrupts the display. 

The sedan takes off with police in pursuit. It’s unclear if that driver was arrested. 

Another driver, 18-year-old Valentino Santos, was allegedly behind the wheel of a stolen orange Chevrolet Camaro that swerved between lanes, drove against traffic, fled a traffic stop and nearly crashed into other cars when he arrived at the street takeover, according to Miami-Dade County police.

Police said they first saw Santos’ car lacking a license plate at NW 27th Avenue and NW 36th Street. 

An officer followed the car covertly until it arrived at the intersection where others were driving recklessly. When authorities turned on their lights and tried to stop the driver, he allegedly sped off. 

The footage of the takeover does not show the car Santos was allegedly driving. 

Later, an officer “observed an accident involving the same vehicle” at NW 27th Avenue and NW 11th Street. Police said the orange Camaro left the scene, “leaving property damage and failing to render aid.”

Police said they followed the Camaro until it came to a stop at Alton Road and 2nd Street in Miami Beach, where they arrested Santos, who was wearing a mask and gloves. 

Authorities also said he had a 17-year-old in the car as a front passenger.

Santos was charged with grand theft in the third degree, fleeing police, leaving the scene of a crash and contributing to the delinquency of a child.