Miami officer was riding with man charged in dispute over noisy car

A Miami police sergeant was present when a Pembroke Pines man chased two teens riding in a noisy convertible, threatened them with a gun and struck them, officials said.

MarioPerez, 49, a security guard and former Hialeah police officer, confronted Tyler Muraida, 19, and his 15-year-old friend Monday night as they drove around theirPembroke Shores community in Muraida’s Honda S2000, which doesn’t have a muffler.

Perez chased the teens in his car, cursed at them and punched Muraida in the face, Pembroke Pines police say. He also struck the younger teen’s head with a handgun, police said.

Pembroke Pines said Miami officer police James Faris, 51, was riding Perez’s car at the time.

When questioned by officers, Faris said he witnessed an altercation between Perez and Muraida but that “due to hisposition, he could not see what exactly occurred between them,” a Pembroke Pines police statement said.

TheMiamiPoliceDepartment’s internal affairs officers are investigating Faris’ actions, Officer Christopher Bess said Friday.

State records show Faris has been a member of the department since 1993.

Perez was a Hialeah police officer for six years until in 1994. He is in a Broward County jail, awaiting an April 27 bond hearing.

He faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill; battery; aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and two counts of armed burglary of the car.

His attorney, John S. Hager, said Friday, “This situation is something that has gotten out of control and it’s an unfortunate thing to happen.

“My client is alleging the youngerdriverwas speeding in the community, almost struck two people and there have been complaints about that convertible speeding in the community,” Hager said.

In March, Pembroke Pines police cited TylerMuraida for running a red light and driving 74 mph in a 45 mph zone when he was stopped at Taft Street and North FlamingoRoad.

Police have not cited him for any traffic offense within the Pembroke Shores community, according to court records.

Mark Muraida said of Hager’s allegations against his son, “That’s all news to me. It’s a community association and if therewere complaints about Tyler, it would have gotten back tome.”

As for the Honda’s noise levels, Muraida said, “Motorcycles in the neighborhood are louder than that.”

Pembroke Shores is south of Pines Boulevard andwest of Interstate 75.