23-Year-old Accused of Terrorizing Tow Truck Operator

MIAMI — The arrest report for Daquan Levon Daniels reads like a scene straight out of “Sons of Anarchy.”

Police say the 23-year-old Daniels was one of 30 to 40 motorcycle-riding bandits, who swarmed and terrorized tow truck operator Johnny Gadea on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

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After posting video of the incident on Facebook, Daniels, of the 500 block of NW 60 Street, was arrested by Miami police last week and is scheduled to be arraigned at 9 a.m. on March 3 on a charge of strongarm robbery and a related offense.

The incident occurred at 6:30 p.m at NW 12 Avenue and NW 68 Street.

“The victim was completely trapped,” explained Officer Yelitza Cedano of the Miami Police Department.

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Police say the incident was part of a bizarre Miami area tradition that plays out every MLK Day, when hundreds of off-road vehicles take to public highways and roadways in an apparent display of defiance aimed at law enforcement.

“The victim stated that he immediately attempted to radio for assistance through his dispatch radio,” according to Miami police, who said that one of the motorcyclists reached into Gadea’s cab and “snatched” the radio out of his hands and handed it to Daniels.

Gadea put up the window and placed his cell phone on his lap. He dialed 9-1-1 without anyone noticing and placed the call on speaker.

According to the arrest report, Daniels repeatedly smashed at Gadea’s window with a screwdriver as the 48-year-old tow truck operator from Molina's Towing feared for his life.

Six to eight men hopped on the back of the tow truck and loosened the chains that secured the two motorcycles.

Daniels could be seen on the video holding Gadea's radio, according to the arrest report. The motorcycles had been seized by Miami-Dade police.

Photo and video by Miami Police Department