Morning drop-off near a North Beach Jewish day school turned terrifying when a Miami Beach teacher was cornered on the sidewalk, slapped, spat on and showered with antisemitic slurs. Newly released video captures her screaming for help as a man closes in on her just steps from Lehrman Community Day School, rattling parents and staff who watched the arrest unfold later that day.
Video and police account
According to police, the attack happened around 7:40 a.m. on Dec. 10, a few blocks from Lehrman Community Day School at 727 77th St. The teacher, who was wearing a Star of David necklace, is seen in the footage yelling for help as the suspect advances on her. Investigators say he grabbed her cellphone, struck her and spat on her before smashing the device, as reported by Local 10.
Arrest and charges
Miami Beach police arrested 33-year-old Slemons Graves shortly after the incident and booked him on charges of strong-arm robbery and battery with prejudice, authorities said. Officers located and detained him nearby, and investigators say the victim’s phone was repeatedly smashed during the confrontation, as reported by NBC 6.
An internal police memo cited by WSVN says the attacker told the teacher, “Move, you dirty Jew,” as he approached, then slapped her and hurled her phone to the ground several times. The victim fled into the school, where colleagues called police, according to the memo. Investigators then used surveillance video and drone footage to identify a suspect. WSVN first reported details from that memo.
Local leaders respond
The incident quickly drew outrage from city officials and parents. Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner called the attack “horrific” and urged prosecutors to pursue the case aggressively. Several families told reporters the assault heightened their concerns about safety around Jewish institutions, as reported by CBS Miami.
Context: A broader trend
Advocates say the case fits into a broader pattern of antisemitic incidents in Florida. The Anti-Defamation League's 2024 audit recorded 353 antisemitic incidents statewide, including multiple assaults in Miami-Dade County, a level that civil-rights groups say keeps synagogues and schools on constant alert, according to ADL.
During an early court hearing, prosecutors told a judge that Graves had previously been arrested in his hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, in 2024 after an incident that allegedly involved racial slurs and a thrown hot cup of coffee, and that he had been living in South Florida for about two months before the Dec. 10 attack. Local 10's reporting notes the prior arrest as part of a review of the court file. Local 10
Legal next steps
Graves remains in custody on the felony charges, while prosecutors consider whether to seek hate-crime enhancements, NBC 6 reported. Investigators are still reviewing surveillance and cellphone footage and are asking the public to share any video or information that might help the case.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Miami Beach Police. People can also report antisemitic incidents through the Anti-Defamation League's online reporting portal, which the group says is used by authorities and community organizations to track incidents and connect victims with support resources. ADL
