New surveillance video shows a crash in Miami that police believe was staged and that led to four men facing charges.
Miami Police responded to the crash in the area of Northwest 8th Avenue and Northwest 70th Street Wednesday night.
A detective who reviewed the surveillance footage believed the crash was staged, arrest reports said.
The video shows two vehicles crash before one driver gets into another vehicle that was waiting nearby and flees, the reports said.
Dairon Palacios, 18, of West Palm Beach; John Michael Acosta, 21, of Miami; Adriano Prada, 19, of Miami; and Dimas Tomayo, 30, of Hialeah, were arrested on charges including insurance fraud-staged accident, organized scheme to defraud, and providing false information to law enforcement, records showed.
Miami-Dade CorrectionsMiami-Dade Corrections
L to R: Dairon Palacios, John Michael Acosta, Adriano Prada, Dimas Tomayo
The reports said the surveillance footage also showed Tomayo driving his vehicle, which was inconsistent with what was reported.
Tomayo said he was approached by an unknown male who offered him $1,500 and repairs to his vehicle for his involvement in the staged crash, police said.
According to the reports, Tomayo said communication occurred over WhatsApp he was given the information of a tow truck driver who would take his car to a body shop for repairs.
Palacios initially told police he didn’t know what was happening but later told investigators he was aware the crash was going to occur and was to be paid $400 for his involvement, the reports said.
Prada told investigators in Spanish that he didn’t know anyone involved and stated that he “was taken as a fool in exchange for $600,” the reports said.
“It was determined that the defendant and co-defendants organized and knowingly participated in a pre-planned and intentional motor vehicle crash to create documentation of a traffic accident,” the reports said. “The purpose of the crash was to submit a motor vehicle tort claim and ultimately seek personal injury protection (PIP) benefits through their motor vehicle insurance.”
All four suspects were booked into jail early Thursday.