Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Driver faces arson charges after substation crash
A woman who dramatically crashed her car into the Pembroke Park district office of the Broward Sheriff’s Office has been arrested.
Lasandra Johnson, of West Park, is facing charges of arson and burglary for the crash that happened shortly before 11:30 a.m. Monday at the BSO substation at 3201 W. Hallandale Beach Blvd., officials said.
“Lasandra Johnson drove into the South Broward district office on Monday with accelerants in her car,” said Joy Oglesby, a spokeswoman for the sheriff ’s office.
Investigators have not disclosed the specific type of accelerants that were allegedly inside Johnson’s car.
However, Johnson, 34, was
hurt and burned in the crash and remained hospitalized Wednesday.
A worker who was painting inside the building when the incident happened was able to help Johnson get out of the crashed red Toyota Camry.
“She was engulfed in flames,” the worker, Ben Mendez, said on Monday.
“I brought her outside and ripped her dress off — it was engulfed in flames. I made her roll on the ground and put out all the flames,” Mendez said.
The only other reported injury was an employee of the sheriff’s office who hurt herself while evacuating the building, Oglesby said. She was taken to a hospital as a precaution.
Anyone with information about the case can contact Detective Mark Warsaw at 954-321-4311. Tips can also be made anonymously to Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477 or online at browardcrimestoppers.org.