MIAMI – The three men accused of shooting an off-duty Miami-Dade police officer during a robbery appeared in bond court on Monday morning.
Dedrick Brown, 20, Willie Barney, 19, and Travares Santiago, 20, face charges of armed robbery and attempted murder. All three men were denied bond.
According to investigators, the men demanded Det. Wislyn Joseph hand over his jewelry as he was volunteering at a church at 6701 Northwest 7th Avenue on Saturday. Police say Barney shot Joseph, 33, in the chest with a semi-automatic pistol before all three men took off.
Joseph, a 10-year veteran of the Miami-Dade Police Department, called 911 after he was shot. A responding officer put him into the back of his patrol car and drove him to the hospital. Joseph was released from Jackson Memorial Hospital late Saturday.
On Monday, Joseph was surrounded by family as he recovered at his home in North Miami.
"The bad guys are off the street. Thank God they are off the street and that's all we wanted to know. And, we are doing wonderful," said Joseph's sister. "By the grace of God, he is doing fabulous."
Neighbors were relieved the veteran detective was making a quick recovery.
"He's a good man, quiet, always saying good afternoon, we always talk, but he's a good man," said Silencia Francois.
"I'm surprised they shot him but I know he's a nice guy. He's a good guy," said Ersene Leurent.
Brown, Barney, and Santiago each have a criminal history. Brown has six previous arrests, including for grand theft and possession of marijuana and cocaine. Barney has been arrested three previous times, including for armed robbery. Santiago has four previous arrests, including for grand theft and aggravated battery on a pregnant woman.
