Shooting of Miami-Dade detective linked to probe of prison corruption, source says

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A drug detective for the Miami-Dade Police Department was shot dead last week. It was close. The bullet grazed his head and he was able to go home to recover. He was part of an ongoing probe into corruption in state and federal prisons, a source familiar with the probe said Monday.

Steve Gallon IV, the son of Miami-Dade School Board member Steve Gallon III, was accused of shooting the detective after receiving a call from Atiba Moore warning him that an undercover detective was using his vehicle pursued, police said.

Gallon IV tried to lose the officer, sped around the block several times and finally just slammed on the brakes, causing the officer to crash into the back of his vehicle and Gallon shot him, police said.

“Unfortunately, it’s the society we live in, but it’s not going to stop us,” said Freddy Ramirez, Miami-Dade Police Director, after the shooting. “We will keep moving forward because we have a sworn oath to protect our community.”

Gallon now faces charges of attempted murder of a second-degree police officer, and Moore faces charges of solicitation of murder. Three others were arrested for allegedly helping Gallon hide from police.

While Gallon and Moore were charged with crimes in Miami-Dade County, deputies held him in the main Broward County jail. The Miami-Dade County corrections didn’t explain why.