The deputy had minor injuries after the early-morning crash in West Park, authorities said.
WEST PARK, FL — A driver was arrested after investigators said he slammed an SUV into a Broward Sheriff’s Office deputy’s cruiser, backed up, and hit it a second time before trying to flee early Monday outside a gentlemen’s club in West Park.
The crash and arrest added to a growing list of South Florida cases in which officers say drivers used vehicles to force escapes. In this case, sheriff’s officials said the deputy suffered minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. Authorities identified the driver as 28-year-old Mervin Coffy and said he was booked into jail on multiple charges tied to the collision and his actions after it.
Deputies were called to the area shortly before 3 a.m. after reports of a crash involving a marked sheriff’s vehicle and a civilian SUV, the Broward Sheriff’s Office said. Investigators said the driver of a black Cadillac Escalade left the parking lot of the Playhouse Gentlemen’s Club at a high rate of speed, lost control and slammed into the deputy’s cruiser near West Hallandale Beach Boulevard and Southwest 58th Avenue. Detectives said the Escalade then reversed and struck the cruiser again, and the driver sped away. Sheriff’s officials said the deputy was inside the patrol vehicle and suffered minor injuries. The deputy’s name was not released.
The escape attempt did not last long, authorities said. The sheriff’s office said the Escalade quickly became disabled after the second impact and Coffy was taken into custody. The circumstances that led deputies to the driver after the vehicle stopped were not detailed in the initial statements, but the sheriff’s office said Coffy was arrested at the scene after the SUV could no longer continue. Officials also did not say whether alcohol or drugs were suspected, whether Coffy had passengers, or whether any other vehicles were damaged in the moments after the deputy’s cruiser was struck.
Coffy was booked on charges that included aggravated battery on an officer, leaving the scene of a crash involving damage, reckless driving causing damage to a person or property, false imprisonment and resisting arrest without violence, according to sheriff’s officials. The sheriff’s office did not immediately release an arrest report describing why investigators believed the strike was intentional, how the false-imprisonment allegation was supported, or whether Coffy made statements to deputies after he was detained. Court records and a first appearance date were not included in the initial agency update, and it was not immediately clear late Monday which charges prosecutors planned to pursue first.
Authorities said the deputy was taken to a local hospital for a medical evaluation and was treated for injuries described as minor. Sheriff’s officials did not provide details about the deputy’s condition, how long the deputy remained at the hospital, or whether the deputy had been cleared to return to duty. They also did not describe whether the deputy was outside the cruiser at any point or whether the patrol vehicle was positioned as part of a traffic stop, a routine patrol, or another call when the Escalade entered the roadway from the club’s parking lot.
Images and video from the scene showed extensive damage to the deputy’s vehicle, including deployed airbags and a crumpled front section, according to footage shared by local outlets. The sheriff’s office did not describe damage to the Escalade beyond saying it became disabled, and officials did not say whether the SUV had visible front-end damage consistent with two impacts. Authorities also did not say whether surveillance cameras from nearby businesses captured the crash or whether investigators planned to seek video from the club, neighboring properties, or traffic cameras along West Hallandale Beach Boulevard.
The West Park area where the crash occurred sits near major east-west routes and is close to the Broward County line with Miami-Dade, a region with heavy overnight traffic tied to service-industry work, late-night venues and freight routes. Sheriff’s officials said the incident happened outside the Playhouse Gentlemen’s Club, but they did not suggest the business was involved. Investigators did not say whether Coffy had been at the club, whether the deputy was responding to any disturbance there, or whether the SUV’s path out of the parking lot was connected to an earlier call.
Florida law allows law enforcement to pursue charges that escalate when a crash involves injuries, a law enforcement officer, or an alleged attempt to use a vehicle as a weapon. Authorities did not provide details on how they believed the second collision occurred, including how far the SUV backed up, the angle of the impact, or whether the deputy had time to move. The sheriff’s office said the driver backed up and struck the cruiser again, a sequence that investigators often cite as evidence of intent when determining whether a crash should be treated as an assault rather than a simple traffic collision.
Officials said the investigation remained open Monday, and they did not release a timeline for additional updates. In cases involving alleged assaults on officers, investigators typically gather patrol vehicle data, body-camera footage, dispatch audio and crash-scene measurements before presenting a case to prosecutors. Authorities did not say whether the deputy’s cruiser had dash-camera footage, whether body-camera video was available, or whether the deputy’s statements had been recorded as part of the inquiry.
Even with the arrest, several key questions remained unanswered late Monday. Authorities did not publicly describe what led to the deputy’s vehicle being in the area, whether the deputy had activated emergency lights, or whether the deputy had attempted to stop the Escalade before the crash. Investigators also did not say whether Coffy had a valid driver’s license, whether the SUV was registered to him, or whether he had any prior arrests. Sheriff’s officials did not say whether anyone else was injured, whether property outside the two vehicles was damaged, or whether any nearby roads were closed during the response.
Law enforcement agencies in South Florida have repeatedly warned that crashes involving marked vehicles can pose serious risks to officers and bystanders, especially in overnight conditions when visibility can be limited and drivers may be impaired or distracted. Authorities said the deputy in this case suffered minor injuries, but the damage described by officials and seen in the scene footage showed how quickly an impact can disable a patrol car. Investigators did not say whether the deputy was wearing a seat belt, whether the airbags deployed on impact, or whether the second strike changed the severity of the damage.
For residents and business owners in West Park, the collision was the kind of sudden, loud event that can jolt a neighborhood awake. The sheriff’s office did not identify witnesses, but such incidents typically draw nearby employees, patrons and drivers to the scene, and investigators often ask them for cell phone video or statements. Authorities did not say whether any witnesses provided immediate accounts or whether anyone reported seeing the SUV’s behavior before the first impact, including whether it fishtailed, sped through the lot, or crossed lanes while exiting onto West Hallandale Beach Boulevard.
Authorities said Coffy’s arrest ended any immediate threat on the roadway, but the case was expected to move next to bond proceedings and a charging review by prosecutors. Sheriff’s officials did not say whether Coffy requested an attorney or whether he was interviewed. They also did not announce any upcoming briefing, but officials said the crash remained under investigation, signaling that detectives could still add details as they review evidence and reports from the deputy and other responders.
As of Monday afternoon, sheriff’s officials said the deputy had been evaluated at a hospital and Coffy was in custody as the agency continued to investigate the circumstances of the crash outside the West Park club. Authorities have not announced a date for the next public update on the case.
Author note: Last updated February 9, 2026.