The charge against an 18-year-old accused of pushing a former Surfside vice mayor has been dropped, officials confirmed. The felony battery charge was initially filed after an altercation that took place during a candidate debate at Surfside Town Hall on February 28.
Joshua Epstein, the teenager in question, expressed his relief after the dismissal of his case. Speaking to 7News, Epstein said, "Huge relief, I mean, huge thank you to the Surfside community, thank you to the State Attorney's Office for looking at the evidence, and seeing it for the political stray that it was. I'm going to use to this to fuel my passion for justice." His remarks highlighted his gratitude and future intentions towards activism.
Meanwhile, the former vice mayor Jeff Rose appeared in a cell phone video, captured during the incident, aggressively confronting Epstein. "Keep pushing me, Josh. Keep pushing me. You already pushed me once, and it’s on camera," Rose is seen shouting in the footage obtained by 7News. Epstein, however, firmly responded, "I haven’t touched you, If I did, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. I didn’t push you, though." Despite the accusation, the alleged encounter wasn’t captured on the video.
Support for Epstein was not scarce following his arrest, evident from a rally held by community activists who demanded an independent investigation into his arrest and Rose’s conduct. Eliana Salzhauer, Epstein’s mother and a former town commissioner, has been vocal in refuting the claims made by Rose. In an interview, she defended her son, detailing how he began filming after Rose "angrily charging at another resident". A small rally for Epstein also materialized outside Surfside Town Hall, as reported by NBC Miami.
Rose, who has not yet made a public response since the charge's dismissal, planned to release a statement on Monday afternoon, as per 7News. The incident and subsequent legal proceedings have highlighted the tense atmosphere surrounding local politics in the small Florida community.
