Robbery Suspect Leads Police Through High-Speed Fort Lauderdale Chase
Police conducted a high-speed chase through Fort Lauderdale recently that ended with the arrest of a defendant on robbery charges, Fox News reports.
Fort Lauderdale Criminal Defense Lawyers have defended many people charged with robbery, which can be a tough charge for police and prosecutors to prove. But when suspects get into high-speed chases with law enforcement, it can lead to many additional charges, such as fleeing and eluding, traffic-related charges, such as running red lights and reckless driving and also charges that relate to the injury of an officer, if one is hurt. So, if you are facing charges of robbery in Fort Lauderdale, contact our firm today.
Fox News reports that the suspect was wanted for a robbery and was chased up and down State Road 7 near Northwest 16th Street. Police eventually apprehended the man after he crashed into a fence near Northwest 14th Place and 32nd Court. The man fled on foot, but was arrested by officers.
Being arrested for robbery in Florida can have a terrible effect on a person’s reputation, livelihood and well-being. It can lead to job loss as well as the strain of dealing with the criminal justice system.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement reports that one robbery is committed every 20 minutes, making it one of the more frequent crimes our state experiences. There were 26,074 robberies in Florida, which is actually down from 16 percent from 30,881 that were committed in 2009.
But still, of the 26,000 robberies, 11,106 involved a weapon, which is a scary situation. But while can be terrifying for the victim, a suspect charged with robbery with a weapon faces serious prison time in Florida.
According to Florida Statutes 812.13, robbery with a firearm is a first-degree felony, punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Even without a weapon, a robbery charge carries a prison sentence of up to 15 years in prison as a second-degree felony.
Also in Florida, the use of a weapon can come into play when robbery is alleged. Under the 10-20-Life law in Florida, a person convicted of certain crimes involving a gun can face a minimum 10-year prison sentence. If a gun is discharged, even if by accident, the person could face a 20-year prison term and if someone is injured or killed, they can face 25 years to life.
And a defendant’s criminal history can be applied to the case, as well. If a convicted felon uses a gun in a robbery, they can face an additional three years for a charge of possession of a firearm by a felon. And the law mandates that the prison terms be serve consecutively — one after the other — to any other prison sentence.
So, hiring the right attorney could be critical to a person’s future prospects of freedom. Our firm has years of experience as prosecutors, so we know how the state thinks and how local law enforcement gather evidence. We know the problems they can have in these types of cases and we can apply it to your case.
If you are arrested for robbery in Fort Lauderdale or elsewhere in South Florida, contact Leifert & Leifert at for a free consultation.
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