An 18-year-old man who was seen putting graffiti on private property in Miami Beach died after he ran from police and an officer used a Taser on him, police said.
Miami Beach Police officers saw Israel Hernandez vandalizing private property with graffiti at 71st Street and Collins Avenue at 5:14 a.m. on Tuesday, Police Chief Raymond Martinez said in a statement Wednesday.
As officers approached Hernandez fled and they pursued him. During the chase he ran into and out of a building, and went over a fence before he crashed down hard on the hood of a car, an officer wrote in an offense incident report. Hernandez landed on his feet before losing his balance and falling on his chest, and then ran northbound on Harding Avenue, the report said.
Officers came face to face with Hernandez at 71st Street and Harding Avenue, where he ignored their commands to stop, Martinez said. An officer used a Taser on Hernandez and he was taken into custody, but he then showed signs of medical duress, Martinez said.
Miami Beach Fire Rescue took Hernandez to Mount Sinai Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, Martinez said.
“The City of Miami Beach would like to extend their condolences to the family of Israel Hernandez,” the statement said.
The cause of death has not been determined by the Medical Examiner’s Office, and autopsy and toxicology results are also pending, Martinez said.
The incident remains under investigation.
Photo Credit: Courtesy Rafael Lynch