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Congratulations to Officers Alexander Toledo and Christopher Challenger, recipients of the City of Coral Gables “Officer of the Year Award,” for 2019.
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On January 28, 2019 at approximately 1952 hours, three Offenders committed an Armed Car Jacking at 1518 San Ignacio Avenue. A BOLO was issued for the vehicle. While driving south on San Amaro Drive Officers A. Toledo and C. Challenger had observed a vehicle matching the listed description of the vehicle entering the Metro Rail parking lot at the 5700-block of Ponce de Leon Blvd. Officer Challenger confirmed the license plate of the vehicle in the parking lot matched the stolen Vehicle. Officer Toledo and Officer Challenger were able to approach the vehicle and took the three Offenders into custody. While completing a pat down on one of the Offenders, Officer Challenger recovered a cellphone in his left front pocket that belonged to the Victim.
Due to the quick actions of these two Officers. the Offenders were arrested less than 23 minutes after committing these violent crimes. Subsequent investigation has revealed that they were the perpetrators of numerous similar crimes in the local area Without their keen police intuition, it is likely these Offenders would still be preying on our community. I therefore nominate Officer Christopher Challenger and Officer Alex Toledo for the Officer of the Month for January 2019.