The man wanted for his role in a shooting involving an officer and other crimes that occurred last week was arrested on Thursday.
At approximately 5:30 p.m. this Thursday, February 23, the US Marshals Service (USMS) in conjunction with the US Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force with the assistance of the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office apprehended the suspect at the Econo Lodge Inn and Suites located at 4669 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Road in Kissimmee.
The suspect attempted to evade arrest by dressing up in a wig, but his efforts were unsuccessful.
The events for which he was wanted occurred around 4:54 a.m. on Friday, February 17. Broward Sheriff’s Office Robbery Arrest Team (BAT) detectives were proactively monitoring Leandro Fernández Sánchez in reference to an armed robbery of a vehicle and a stolen firearm in Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport parking lot.
When detectives attempted to apprehend the suspect, he fled the area in the stolen vehicle. BSO officers located the suspect a short distance away. Near the 1400 block area of North Perimeter Road, the suspect committed an aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer while driving the stolen car into an officer’s vehicle.
At this time, at least one BSO officer fired his weapon at the vehicle. The suspect inside the vehicle was able to flee on foot and managed to hijack a Broward County Paratransit TOPS shuttle and flee. The Broward Sheriff’s Fire Department responded. The bus driver was slightly injured.
Fernández Sánchez is expected to be extradited to Broward County to face numerous felony charges, including aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, aggravated flight and escape, auto theft and armed robbery.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting involving the officer.