Woman Upset After Police Chase Damages Her SUV

MIAMI - A South Florida woman is expressing her frustration after her SUV was severely damaged during a police pursuit in Miami Beach. The incident occurred on Sunday evening when Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) troopers executed a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver to stop a stolen Toyota SUV driven by a suspect. The maneuver, designed to force a vehicle to turn sideways and halt, resulted in the SUV rolling over, leading to significant damage and the apprehension of the driver. The vehicle's owner, Glenda Defas, is distraught over the loss of her SUV, which she relies on for commuting to work and caring for her disabled brother. Four days after the incident, she remains in shock, confronting the aftermath of her vehicle's destruction, which includes flat tires, shattered windows, and debris scattered around the site. Police had to break the sunroof to extract the suspect from the overturned vehicle. According to FHP, the driver of the stolen SUV, identified as Savalas Cigar, attempted to evade law enforcement before the pursuit ensued. The troopers successfully conducted the PIT maneuver on the entrance ramp to westbound I-195 from Alton Road, resulting in the vehicle overturning and the driver being taken into custody without further incident. Cigar is currently in jail facing multiple charges, including eluding police, grand theft, and driving without a valid license.