MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A 13-year-old boy was arrested Sunday after he stole his stepfather's black Cadillac and struck two women and a 3-month-old baby in Miami Beach, authorities said.
The hit-and-run was reported just before 4:30 p.m. Sunday in the area of 77th Street and Dickens Avenue.
According to an arrest report, the teen was making a left turn onto Dickens Avenue when he struck the victims in the crosswalk.
Police said the teen reversed the vehicle and began to travel west on 77th Street.
A witness followed the teen and called 911.
Police said the suspect continued driving until he was stopped by an officer.
Authorities said the teen got out of the car, held his hands in the air and was taken into custody.
The victims were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center. Police said Yolanda Fajardo, 51, suffered a laceration to the head and a fractured hip, and the other victim, a Carol Gutierrez, 21, suffered minor bruising to the buttocks. Three-month-old Silvana Pinzon was also hurt when her stroller fell to the ground.
Jonny Pinzon, the victim’s father, said Silvana has multiple contusions on her face.
"He ran all three of them over at high speed," Pinzon said in Spainish.
Police said the suspect's stepfather did not want to pursue charges regarding the theft of his vehicle, but the teen still faces charges of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury and driving without a license.
Authorities said the teen waived his right to an attorney and confessed to the hit-and-run.
"I understand the trouble that he’s in and it’s very serious. But -- we haven’t strong-armed him -- but we’ve been strict," the stepfather told the court Monday.
Juvenile Court Judge Richard Hersch was not convinced.
"I don’t know what’s going on at your house, but he has 27 absences from school last year and his grades stink.," Hersch said.
Hersch ordered that teen be held in home detention and for some changes to take place at home.
“There’s some people seriously injured in this case. I think it’s time somebody needs to step in and makes sure he’s in school," Hersch said.