NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – An investigation is underway after shots were fired Wednesday morning at a police officer’s vehicle in North Miami Beach, authorities confirmed.
According to North Miami Beach police, the shooting occurred in the area of Northeast 27th Avenue and 163rd Street.
A Local 10 News crew was at the scene later in the morning, which was located in the parking lot of a Kabbalah Centre.
“Scary. The only thing we can do is combat evil with love,” one person who attends the Kabbalah Centre said.
Witnesses told Local 10′s Andrea Martinez that a police car with what appeared to be a bullet hole in the right front passenger tire was towed away.
Police said the shooter fled the area in a vehicle at a high rate of speed before crashing with another vehicle in the area of Northwest First Avenue and 167th Street.
The suspect, who has been identified as 36-year-old Evan Polinski, was taken into custody.
Neighbors told Local 10 News that Polinski is a man who often acts erratically.
Police confirmed that the officer was not injured in the shooting.
A motive for the shooting remains unclear.
“After what happened in Israel, we had people stationed here,” one person who attends the Kabbalah Centre said. “The city did a great job in all areas that were at risk. But we have security here.”
Officers said their investigation has led them to believe that the shooting was an isolated incident targeting law enforcement and that there is no threat to the Jewish community.