BROWARD COUNTY, FL -- A funeral service was interrupted when a man stole an unoccupied hearse in front of a West Park church just before noon Wednesday.
At 11:37 a.m., Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church, located at 5212 Pembroke Rd.
A funeral director reported a man who was in the church during the service took off in a black hearse parked out front.
A BOLO was broadcast for the stolen vehicle, and within 10 minutes it was spotted by Hallandale Beach Police in the 600 block of Foster Rd. in their city.
BSO deputies picked up on the fleeing hearse westbound on Pembroke Rd., near Interstate 95.
The hearse refused to stop for deputies, then was boxed-in by patrol cars in the 3800 block of Pembroke Rd. Deputies exited their patrol cars and when they attempted to take the suspect into custody, he drove towards one of the deputies, who shot at the suspect, striking him in the leg.
The suspect, identified as Johnny Silfrain, 18, drove off, returned to the church and ran inside, with the service still in progress.
With several deputies in tow, the wounded suspect was taken into custody in front of a church filled with mourners.
BSO detectives reported that after Silfrain stole the hearse, he went home and asked, “If anyone wanted to go for a ride in a hearse.”
He then grabbed a bible and cross and left his house.
The suspect was transported by Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue to Memorial Regional Hospital with a non-life threatening wound to the leg.
As is policy anytime a deputy discharges a service weapon, the deputy was placed on administrative leave.
BSO’s Internal Affairs Unit is conducting an investigation.
