On, April 11, 2007, an armed car-jacking occurred in a supermarket parking lot located at SW 201 Street and SW 127 Avenue. Officer Tapanes was working a burglary detail that morning and responded to the scene after hearing a “Be on the Lookout” (BOLO) bulletin for the subject and the car. Officer Tapanes unsuccessfully searched for the vehicle throughout the morning detail. 

Later that afternoon, Officer Tapanes was driving southbound on SR 826 in the outside lane, when he observed through his rear view mirror a vehicle, matching the description given in the BOLO, traveling at a high rate of speed in the emergency lane. Once the car had passed, Officer Tapanes quickly glanced at the tag and confirmed that it was the stolen car. He activated his emergency equipment, informed the dispatcher that he was behind a vehicle stolen in a robbery, and requested assistance from Midwest District.

As Officer Tapanes attempted to catch up, the driver crashed into several vehicles and then cut across five lanes of traffic, striking several more civilian cars in the process. Officer Tapanes cautiously crossed over four lanes of highway, never losing sight of the vehicle. As the stolen vehicle exited SR 826 onto Flagler Street, it went onto the sidewalk, blew out the right side tires, and stopped in the Mall of Americas parking lot.

Fearing that the subject would run into the mall, Officer Tapanes approached the vehicle, opened the driver’s door, and ordered him to exit and lie on the ground. The subject’s hesitation caused some alarm and Officer Tapanes directed him to the ground.

When Officer Tapanes kneeled to handcuff the subject, he discovered that the subject’s vehicle was still in “drive” and rolled over both of Officer Tapanes’s ankles and feet, ultimately resulting in several fractures to his left foot and deep bruising to his right foot. In excruciating pain, Officer Tapanes was able to complete handcuffing the subject.  Officer Tapanes then stayed on top of the subject, using his body weight to prevent the subject from escaping.   Once assistance arrived, Officer Tapanes received emergency treatment.

An inventory of the vehicle revealed stolen property from an additional robbery. Robbery detectives responded, had the subject identified, and later that evening he confessed to both armed robberies.

Officer Tapanes demonstrated extraordinary bravery, initiative, and innovation. His exceptional effort resulted in the immediate arrest of an armed robber. He is an outstanding representative of the law enforcement profession.

Prepared by:
Sandra G. Kramer
Media Relations Bureau