Miami Beach Police have taken a man into custody for his alleged role in a strong-arm robbery attempt and assaulting an officer, officials said. Perry Smith, 53, faced charges after authorities pieced together the details surrounding two violent incidents on the sun-soaked streets of Miami Beach.
Smith's arrest on Monday came on the heels of a reported attack against Jo Mannin, 83, a noted figure in the local historic preservation community. According to WSVN, the suspect demanded money and threatened Mannin with bodily harm, near her Collins Avenue residence on a quiet Sunday morning. The encounter was captured on surveillance, and Mannin managed to escape unscathed.
While the charge details are pending, Smith's bond for resisting an officer stands at $2,500. He is currently held at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, preparing for a Tuesday appearance in Miami-Dade bond court.
In an interview obtained by WSVN, Mannin expressed her dismay at the ordeal, "I'm in shock, because it's a very peaceful Sunday morning, and I walk this street all the time, there are lots of people around and, all the sudden, I’m accosted by someone who’s threatening me with bodily harm." This was not the only act of violence shaking the area recently, as a Chilean tourist endured an unprovoked attack nearby, just two days prior.
The Miami Beach police clarified that Smith admitted to the encounter with Mannin, as per Top Media Toys. Originally, Mannin thought her attacker was the same man behind the tourist's assault, but later she reconsidered her statement, and police sources ruled out Smith's connection to the tourist's case. Mannin warned the public in a statement, urging vigilance amidst the city's idyllic backdrop shadowed by unpredictable threats: "Be careful."
