A South Beach fitness influencer is in the grip of the law, facing multiple felonies after an altercation that left a Miami Beach police motorman injured and his own partner hospitalized. Armando Fogaça, a well-known muscleman on Instagram, reportedly struck the officer with his motorcycle before fleeing the scene, according to Local 10 News.
The incident unfolded Monday morning when the officer, positioned at Fifth Street and Lenox Avenue, attempted to stop Fogaça for an illegal turn. The report from Local 10 News indicates that after initially stopping, Fogaça "accelerated" into the officer, causing several fractures and bruises. Fogaça, along with his wife, then led a high-speed escape that culminated in a crash on the MacArthur Causeway.
In a follow-up to these events, Fogaça's attorney claimed in court that his client did not intend to harm the officer. However, Judge Mindy Glazer detailed the severity of the officer's injuries during the court proceedings, describing "fractured ribs, abrasions and bruising throughout his body." These details were reported by NBC Miami, providing an account of the physical costs of the altercation.
The compounded impact of Fogaça's actions didn't end with the officer. His wife, who was hurled from the motorcycle during their subsequent crash, allegedly gave investigators a harrowing description of their speed, estimated between "80-100 mph," NBC Miami reports. She was treated at Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center as Fogaça was taken into custody on a slew of charges.
Fogaça, known for crushing watermelons and bending cooking pans with his strength on social media, now faces the reality of the justice system. He remains in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center without bond, brought to an abrupt halt by charges that include leaving the scene of a crash causing serious bodily injury, driving without a license causing serious injury, and aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer. Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne Jones addressed the issue, emphasizing the department's zero tolerance for threats to community safety and stating that anyone who harms one of his officers will be held accountable, as per Local 10 News.
