A 39-year-old Hialeah man is behind bars after deputies say he tried to muscle his way into two Miami Lakes townhomes while armed with a machete. Surveillance cameras at the homes recorded the attempted break-ins, and investigators say the effort left visible damage on a sliding glass door frame and a window. Authorities identified the suspect as Jose Manuel Acosta, who was taken into custody and is being held while charges are processed.
According to an arrest report and coverage by Local10, the incidents unfolded Monday night along Kilmarnock Drive. Deputies say Acosta climbed the metal patio framing at one unit and tried to pry open a back sliding glass door with a hammer, then walked over to a neighboring townhome and grabbed a machete from an unlocked storage door. Investigators say he then used the machete to try to pry open the second door and to bang on a nearby window.
How deputies say the arrest unfolded
Deputies responding to the area found Acosta a short time later behind a low wall next to the townhomes, still holding the machete. According to the arrest report, he followed commands and dropped the weapon. Neighbors told detectives that their home security cameras had captured his movements, and no injuries were reported. Deputies seized the machete, and officials say the scene remains under investigation.
Charges and booking
Acosta was arrested on charges of burglary of an occupied dwelling and criminal mischief, according to Local10. As of Tuesday afternoon, he was being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. The arrest report cited by Local10 says Acosta told detectives he "wanted to do home invasions," claimed he had committed burglaries in 2007 and 2008, and allegedly said he would "kill the kids" because they might call 911.
What this means and what’s next
Burglary of an occupied dwelling and criminal mischief are offenses that can carry felony penalties in Florida, with punishment levels tied to the circumstances and the extent of the damage, as outlined by the Florida statutes. Miami-Dade deputies say the investigation is still active and the case will be reviewed by the county's criminal courts for any formal filing of charges. Residents who have tips or additional video from the area are being asked to contact investigators so they can continue to piece together what happened.
