A weekday bus ride through Little Havana turned into a criminal case Thursday morning, after Miami police say a 60-year-old man exposed himself to a 14-year-old girl on a Miami-Dade County bus. The teen quietly recorded what was happening on her phone, then showed the video to the driver, who flagged down an officer.
What police say
According to police, the suspect, identified as Carlos Manuel Rivera Sanchez, 60, of Homestead, was riding a county bus at about 8 a.m. as it passed near Southwest Eighth Street and 24th Court. An arrest report states the girl recorded Rivera Sanchez touching himself for roughly five minutes before he rolled up his pants and exposed his genitals. She then alerted the driver, who signaled police, Local 10 reported.
Officers later made contact with Rivera Sanchez around noon. The arrest report says he told investigators he was in Miami for surgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital and complained of a prostate problem. A detective reviewing the video paused it, and the report says Rivera Sanchez identified his own penis on the screen. He was booked on charges of lewd and lascivious exhibition on a child under 16 and indecent exposure, and was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $5,000 bond.
What the law says
Under Florida law, intentionally exposing one's genitals or masturbating in front of someone younger than 16 can be prosecuted as lewd or lascivious exhibition. For adults, that offense is a felony of the second degree. Florida Statutes section 800.04 lays out lewd and lascivious offenses, and section 800.03, listed in Florida Statutes, covers exposure of sexual organs. Penalties vary based on the exact subsection and a defendant's prior record, but felony convictions can bring significant prison time under the state's sentencing laws.
A worrying pattern on buses
Parents and regular riders have complained before about what their kids are seeing on county buses. In a separate case from July 2024, a man was arrested after he was accused of masturbating in front of three teenage girls on a Metrobus, according to Local 10. That incident, like this one, underscored how vulnerable students who rely on public transit can be.
What to do if you witness something
Authorities say if you see lewd or threatening behavior on public transit, the first step is to move to a safer spot, away from the person, if you can do so without putting yourself at risk. Alert the driver as soon as possible or call 911 so officers can respond and document what happened.
Parents worried about their children's bus routes can contact Miami-Dade police through non-emergency lines or reach out to the school district for guidance on safer travel options or alternate transportation arrangements.
