Oct. 14--Bullets flew in the parking lot of the popular Dolphin Mall in west Miami-Dade Thursday night after a couple suspected of committing fraud at Saks Fifth Avenue sped away and tried to run down police officers who opened fire on the vehicle, Sweetwater police said.
Up to four shots were fired at around 8 p.m. in the mall's parking lot, which was still busy with shoppers and diners.
"Thank God no one was injured," said Sweetwater Police Chief Roberto Fulgueira, who rushed to the scene along with Mayor Manuel Marono.
Fulgueria had no further information about the incident when reached Friday morning.
George Rosairo, director of security at the mall, declined to comment Friday and referred calls about the shooting to the Sweetwater Police Department.
Confronted by police in the parking lot after leaving the store, the couple tried to flee, striking the officer and throwing him to the ground. The officer was only bruised, the police chief said.
A second police officer then opened fire on the fleeing car.
With police in pursuit, the female driver took off alone in a black Expedition as units gave chase. Her male accomplice ran into the mall and then nearby Courtyard Marriott Hotel.
Police said the woman sped out of the mall at a high rate of speed, weaving in an out of traffic. She was finally run off the road near Miami-Dade police headquarters at 9105 NW 25th St., several miles from the mall, which is near Florida's Turnpike.
Her male accomplice, who ran when the shooting began, hid at the hotel near the mall, Fulgueria said.
Arrested were Cassandra Davis, 27, of Miami Gardens, and Herbert Wilson, 32, of Miami Gardens. They were charged with four felonies: assaulting a police officer, fleeing and eluding a police officer, resisting arrest and fraudulent use of credit cards. They were taken to Miami-Dade County Jail.
"He went inside and asked employees to call him a cab, then he waited outside hiding in the bushes for it to arrive,'' Fulgueira said. A cab picked him up, but the taxi cab driver became suspicious.
"We had every available police unit after that cab,'' Fulgueira said.
The cab was finally stopped by police on State Road 836, as it approached northbound Interstate 95.
It's unclear what type of fraud they were committing at the high-end store. The sprawling outdoor mall boasts outlets such as the Banana Republic and Ralph Lauren factory stores.
Miami Herald writer Brent Wells contributed to this report
This article will be updated as more information becomes available
Copyright 2011 - The Miami Herald
