Body cam footage shows Miami-Dade officer open fire on suspect in vehicle

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A newly released video shows the moments a Miami-Dade police officer was forced to open fire when a wanted vehicle slammed right into him.

The video, released by the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, shows the moments the officer is pinned between his car and the suspect’s car, and body camera footage then shows the officer firing several shots.

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It happened in December 2023, when a robbery intervention unit officer was chasing a white Dodge Challenger before it crashed near Northwest 63rd Street and 21st Avenue.

When the officer walked up to the car, he said the driver hit the gas, pinning him against his car, which forced him to fire.

The gunfire was captured on nearby home surveillance video as well.

Police arrested the driver, identified as 38-year-old Virgil French, while the passenger of the car, Charlie Harris was arrested for an outstanding warrant for child abuse.

French was charged with attempted second-degree murder, and a stolen gun was found in the car.