Man killed in Miami-Dade traffic stop was celebrated artist: Bahamian government

The man who was killed when another driver wanted by Miami-Dade deputies blew a stop sign during a traffic stop Wednesday night was a celebrated Bahamian artist visiting South Florida, the country’s government confirmed.

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Stefan Germaine Davis died at Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he was taken after a car driven by Luis Manuel Perez, 21, crashed into his vehicle at the intersection of Northwest 51st Terrace and 33rd Avenue, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said.

Davis, 55, was the founder of a company caller Airbrush Junkies and was well-known as a portrait painter, The Nassau Guardian reported. The country’s Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage called Davis a “a gifted artist whose talent, passion and creativity left an undeniable mark on our cultural landscape.”

“Through his work, he celebrated our people, culture and identity with incredible artistry and purpose. We honour and thank him for his service to our country and for the invaluable contribution his artistry made to Bahamian culture and our creative community,” the government said in a social-media post.

The events leading to his death started around 7:40 p.m. when deputies working a robbery detail pulled over a car driven by Perez. The sheriff’s office has not said why deputies stopped Perez. During the stop, the deputies found out Perez had an outstanding warrant, and he drove away, stopping at a dead-end street before turning around and speeding past a stop sign, the sheriff’s office said.

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His car crashed into Davis’, causing it to roll over, said Detective Joseph Peguero Rivera, a sheriff’s office spokesman. An unmarked Robbery Intervention Detail vehicle was also hit in the collision, Peguero said, adding that the deputy inside the car was injured and treated by paramedics at the scene.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue paramedics took Perez to a hospital for evaluation. When he was released, he was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

He has not been charged as of Friday because he is on a U.S. military hold for a warrant for desertion, according to the sheriff’s office.

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Miami Herald Staff Writer Milena Malaver contributed to this report.