Miramar man accused of hitting deputy had license suspended 5 times, report says
.jpg "A Miramar man accused of striking a Miami-Dade sheriff’s deputy on Florida’s Turnpike had his driver’s license suspended five times, according to officials.")
A Miramar man accused of striking a Miami-Dade sheriff’s deputy on Florida’s Turnpike had his driver’s license suspended five times and was involved in another crash two months earlier, according to the Miami Herald.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said Lonnel Duwayne Brinson Jr., 28, of the 14900 block of NW 52nd Street in Miramar, struck Deputy Leonard Cantave early Saturday, Dec. 27, while the deputy was assisting at a crash scene.
Cantave, a 20-year- veteran, was critically injured but is now in stable condition.
According to an arrest affidavit, Brinson’s license had been suspended repeatedly, a total of five times, for failing to pay traffic fines, with the most recent suspension issued Dec. 8. Court records show at least two unpaid or late citations from Broward County also led to suspensions, the Herald reported.
The accident occured around 7 a.m. on Saturday while Cantave, on his way to work, stopped to assist the Florida Highway Patrol at a traffic crash, where a motorist was trapped.
Cantave had parked his marked patrol vehicle with emergency lights on to help block the northbound lanes and protect motorists and officers at the scene.
According to the affidavit, Brinson was driving a 2019 Mazda CX-5 northbound when he entered the active crash scene without slowing down.
Brinson swerved across lanes and struck Cantave before continuing across the roadway and coming to a stop on the shoulder, showing “a willful and wanton disregard for the safety of all civilians and law enforcement officers walking on or standing on the roadway,” the affidavit said.
Cantave was airlifted to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital. Brinson remained at the scene and was charged with reckless driving causing serious bodily injury and misdemeanor cannabis possession, court records show.
Authorities also allege Brinson admitted to consuming alcohol and marijuana before the crash and told officers he had additional marijuana and a firearm in his vehicle.
This story was originally published December 30, 2025 at 11:54 AM.
