Miami, FL– A 36-year-old man has been taken into custody after he fled from Florida Highway Patrol troopers and abandoned his dog after he was caught driving under the influence.
The incident occurred Tuesday on State Road 826 near Southwest 24 Street.
Authorities say they attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the driver of a black Dodge RAM pickup truck after noticing the driver “was having trouble maintaining a lane, consistent with an impaired driver,” an FHP trooper wrote.
Officials also reported that the driver ran a red light and at one point, almost lost control of the vehicle.
Despite the trooper attempting to conduct a traffic stop on the driver, the driver refused to pull over.
At some point, the driver jumped out of the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot but was subdued.
While searching the vehicle, authorities noticed the suspect had a dog with him:
“I observed the dog was panting with his tongue sticking out,” the trooper wrote, adding that he found a cold Corona beer in the front left door pocket.
Jonathan Suarez is facing charges of fleeing and eluding a police officer, resisting an officer without violence, confining a dog without food or water, and reckless driving.