A Crash That Unraveled a Bigger Theft Case
Miami police say a stolen Ferrari that crashed into a police cruiser and utility pole in Brickell last week is connected to a separate luxury vehicle theft reported the night before in Miami Beach, involving two high-end vehicles that vanished while allegedly in transit with a third-party transportation company.
How the Chase Started
According to Miami police, the crash investigation began after a woman reported her Ferrari stolen and provided tracking information indicating the vehicle was pinging near Southwest 2nd Avenue and 17th Street. Officers responding to the area saw a man get into the Ferrari and drive off, and when they attempted a traffic stop, the driver refused to comply and tried to flee instead.
Ferrari Slams Into a Cruiser, Then Snaps a Utility Pole
Police say the driver lost control while attempting to escape, crashing into a marked police cruiser before slamming into a utility pole. Video from the scene showed the impact snapping the pole in half as it tore through the vehicle, throwing visible sparks across the area. The driver, identified as 28-year-old Deshawn Prendergast, was taken to a hospital for treatment of a laceration before being booked into jail. He faces charges including grand theft, fleeing and eluding police, leaving the scene of an accident, and reckless driving. No officers were reported seriously injured.
The Ferrari’s Real Origin: A Miami Beach Transport Theft
Investigators believe the crashed Ferrari is the same vehicle reported stolen the previous evening in a separate Miami Beach case. According to the Miami Beach Police Department, officers began investigating around 5:30 p.m. Monday after receiving reports that two vehicles, a 2025 Rolls-Royce Cullinan and a 2024 Ferrari Purosangue, had gone missing. Police say both vehicles had been released to a third-party transportation company for delivery to a business outside Miami Beach, and the business owner later told the vehicle’s owner the cars never arrived, suggesting the theft occurred somewhere during transit.
Rolls-Royce Recovered, Ferrari Now Linked to Brickell Crash
Authorities have since recovered the Rolls-Royce Cullinan in Miami-Dade County, and investigators believe the Ferrari involved in the Brickell crash is the same vehicle taken during the Miami Beach transport theft. The investigation into both incidents remains open as police work to determine exactly how the vehicles were taken and whether additional suspects were involved in the original theft. As with any pending criminal case, Prendergast is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.