Suspect who led police chase in Miami-Dade was arrested again after removing ankle monitor

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Florida — A suspect accused of leading police on a high-speed chase in Miami-Dade County in August was arrested again Thursday after his ankle monitor was removed, authorities confirmed.

Jail records show Tavalas Cigar, 46, faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, armed robbery, grand larceny of a vehicle and fleeing police after an accident.

According to authorities, the chase ended the night of Aug. 11 on the Julia Tuttle Causeway when the stolen Cigar SUV overturned after a PIT maneuver and then caught fire.

Authorities said the incident occurred after Miami-Dade police requested assistance from the Florida Highway Patrol to stop a stolen black SUV that was found near State Road 112 and Northwest 12th shortly after 7:30 p.m Avenue had been spotted

According to police, a chase ensued after Cigar attempted to flee southbound on Alton Road.

FHP troopers made an initial attempt to stop the vehicle using a PIT maneuver at the intersection of Alton Road and West 42nd Street, but the SUV regained ground and continued to speed away, an arrest report states.

Because Cigar was allegedly driving erratically and showed no signs of stopping, police say FHP troopers performed a second PIT maneuver on the Alton Road on-ramp to the Julia Tuttle Causeway, causing the SUV to lose control, roll over, and crash onto the right side There was a standstill.

As smoke began to rise from the overturned vehicle, FHP troopers and MDPD officers approached the SUV and quickly realized the situation was escalating.

They said flames appeared near the front of the SUV and feared the vehicle could be completely engulfed and become a potential death trap.

Using a window regulator, the police said they smashed the sunroof and dragged Cigar out of the SUV, which was already starting to burn.

According to authorities, Cigar, who was unresponsive at the time, was pulled from the vehicle just before it burst into flames.

Once Cigar exited the vehicle, he was taken into custody by Miami-Dade police, an arrest report states. He was hospitalized before being taken to prison.

As of Friday morning, Cigar was being held without bail at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.