MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. -- Florida Highway Patrol said Saturday a pursuit through four counties on the Florida Turnpike ended with the suspect dead.
Dozens of law enforcement officers from several agencies pursued the suspect for more than 100 miles. According to FHP, the pursuit started in southern Miami-Dade County.
The Miami-Dade Police Department said the suspect, identified as Michael Sardinas of Hollywood, shot at officers in Florida City when they tried to conduct a traffic stop.
FHP said the chase ended in Martin County at mile marker 127 on the northbound Turnpike, when a Martin County Sheriff's Office deputy performed a pit maneuver.
MCSO says the suspect then shot and killed himself. He was pronounced dead on the way to the hospital.
Sheriff William Snyder said, "This is an extremely dangerous chase. Everybody between Florida City and Martin County mile marker 124 was in danger. Allowing this chase to continue any further would have been exacerbating that danger. You got a suspect firing out of the vehicle at law enforcement."
Detectives said Sardinas was out of prison on a felony release program. He was considered a high risk sex offender.
