Police: Man arrested at Aventura Mall after impersonating officer, trying to steal car

Police respond to Aventura Mall in reference to a man impersonating an officer attempting to carjack someone. (WPLG)

AVENTURA, Fla. – A man is in custody after authorities say he impersonated a police officer and attempted to steal a car.

It happened outside of Aventura Mall on Wednesday night.

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Aventura police say they initially received a call about the man just after 9 p.m.

Officers eventually located him after receiving a call about another similar incident shortly after.

The man fled into the mall near the Cheesecake Factory, where police say many inside initially believed he may have been armed with a gun.

Police said they believe the man may have had a wrench, but not a firearm.

“At no time was there any firearm, there was no gun in play -- there was no firearm that was ever recovered,” Aventura police Officer Hans Maestre said. “We’re still reviewing video, but at this time there is no firearm.”

The man was eventually taken into custody by officers but has yet to be identified.


About the Author
Cody Weddle headshot

Cody Weddle joined Local 10 News as a full-time reporter in South Florida in August of 2022. Before that, Cody worked regularly with Local 10 since January of 2017 as a foreign correspondent in Venezuela and Colombia.

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