MIAMI – There were four victims, including Detective Marvalyn Lee Chin, during Andrewin Wardell’s crime spree on Monday in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood, according to an arrest report.
Wardell, 49, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, struck Lee Chin with a stolen Nissan Murano at about 3:30 p.m., along Northwest Second Avenue, between 12 and 13 streets, police said.
“He put the car in drive and completely rammed into her,” said Chief Manny Morales adding that the carjacker pinned Lee Chin against another car.
Lee Chin’s arms and legs were injured and she had to undergo surgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where Wardell was also treated after his arrest, police said.
Lee Chin was wearing her police uniform and she was in an unmarked car. She was in the area working on another case when she decided to intervene during the carjacking, police said.
The owner of the maroon Nissan Murano told police officers that he was home when he saw Wardell under his car, so he ran outside to move his car to scare away the thief, but there was a struggle, according to the arrest report.
Surveillance video shows the owner of the Nissan grabbing Wardell by the hair and shirt and pushing him, and Wardell hitting the car owner in the face and getting in the driver’s seat, according to the police report.
Wardell stole the Nissan, and after injuring Lee Chin, he crashed on Northwest Second Avenue, and also punched a police officer who tried to arrest him, according to the arrest report.
Detectives arrested Wardell at about 3:55 p.m., along Northwest 12 Street, between Second and Third Avenues, and Miami Fire Rescue personnel took him to Jackson Memorial Hospital, police said. Aside from Minnesota, Wardell also has an arrest record in Iowa and Wisconsin, records show.
Wardell is facing charges of carjacking, attempted murder with a deadly weapon, battery on a police officer, leaving the scene of a crash with bodily injury, fleeing and eluding, and leaving the scene of a crash without an injury.
Detectives were asking anyone with information about the case to call Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
Location
Watch the 12 p.m. report
Watch the 3 p.m. report
Watch the 5 p.m. report
Watch the 6 p.m. report