The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s deputy who was struck on the Florida’s Turnpike while he was helping out with a crash just days after Christmas was in court as the driver who allegedly hit him was formally arraigned on DUI and other charges.
Deputy Leo Cantave appeared in court Wednesday in a wheelchair with his arm in a sling and surrounded by more than a dozen fellow deputies.
NBC6NBC6
Deputy Leo Cantave in court on Feb. 25, 2026.
Cantave was at the courthouse for the arraignment of 28-year-old Lonnel Brinson on charges of reckless driving causing serious bodily injury, DUI with serious bodily injury, knowingly driving with a suspended licensed, and driving without a license or with a suspended license causing serious bodily injury.
Brinson appeared by Zoom and pleaded not guilty. He’ll have to turn himself in on Thursday because of an outstanding bench warrant for a traffic citation.
The incident happened on Dec. 27, when Cantave had stopped to help the Florida Highway Patrol with a crash on the Florida’s Turnpike when he was struck by a vehicle.
Miami-Dade CorrectionsMiami-Dade Corrections
Lonnel Brinson
According to investigators, Brinson didn’t slow down and hit Cantave, sending him into the air.
Brinson stayed at the scene and admitted to consuming marijuana and alcohol before the crash, and told authorities he had marijuana and a firearm in his car, an arrest report said.
According to the report, Brinson’s license was suspended five times for failure to pay traffic fines, with the latest suspension issued on Dec. 8.
Leo Cantave
The crash left Cantave critically injured and he spent weeks in the hospital before he was released earlier this month.
Cantave has been with Miami law enforcement for 20 years and started with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue before joining the sheriff’s office.