‘I took it': Man admits to stealing officer's cruiser in Miami, cops say

A man accused of stealing an officer’s cruiser in Miami and admitting to the crime was arrested on Tuesday, authorities said.

Rodne Joseph, 36, was charged with grand theft of a vehicle, grand theft of a firearm, and depriving an officer of means of protection/communication.

According to Miami Police, a sergeant parked his cruiser at Northeast Second Avenue and entered a convenience store. When he got outside, he saw that his cruiser was gone and used his radio to notify that his cruiser had been stolen.

An arrest report said that the cruiser was last seen traveling northbound on Northeast Second and 77th Street, and a BOLO was issued with a description of the suspect.

During the search of the cruisers, a North Miami Police officer said he found the vehicle unoccupied at 527th NE 137th Street, the report said.

Surveillance video, the report said, showed the suspect walking southbound on NE Second Avenue and 55th Terrace going toward the cruiser. Soon after, the cruiser was seen traveling northbound.

As the investigation continued, the suspect who matched the description of the BOLO and the surveillance footage was seen in the area of Northeast Fifth Avenue and 137th Street, walking toward the cruiser, the report said.

The suspect, the report said, was then detained, and he was identified as Joseph. He then admitted and said “I saw the police car there, so I took it, I parked it there because I live there.”

Joseph was then arrested and was taken to the hospital for minor injuries to his hand..