A quiet afternoon on the sand behind a Surfside condo turned chaotic Wednesday when, according to police, a man grabbed a power drill, charged a beachgoer, and threatened to kill him. Investigators say the drill ended up lodged in a beach chair after the man first swung a beach umbrella during the confrontation. The suspect is now in custody and facing several felony charges.
Officers were dispatched around 3:56 p.m. on April 29 to the beach behind 9559 Collins Ave, where 50‑year‑old Yacov Levi was found sitting on a chair with a drill that had a large sand‑digging bit stuck into the seat, according to WSVN. The arrest report states that Levi initially refused officers' commands and was handcuffed while still seated. Police say he damaged a condominium association beach chair, with the loss estimated at about $500, and that he was taken to jail on charges that include aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, battery on a law‑enforcement officer and criminal mischief.
Investigators say the clash started over a simple request. Levi allegedly asked the victim to sit in the chair. When the man refused, Levi tried to hit him with a beach umbrella and then charged while yelling, "I'm going to kill you," according to the arrest report cited by WSVN. As officers attempted to move him, Levi rolled on the ground and kicked an officer in the legs, the report notes. He was taken into custody shortly afterward.
Charges and legal exposure
Under Florida law, aggravated battery that involves a deadly weapon is typically treated as a second‑degree felony. Assaults on law‑enforcement officers can bring enhanced penalties and, in some situations, reclassification of the offense level. The Florida Legislature outlines the elements of assault and battery crimes along with the sentencing ranges that courts may impose.
Past run‑ins
Levi has appeared in local headlines before. In 2023, Local 10 published body‑camera footage from a separate Miami Beach incident in which he allegedly attempted to steal a jet ski and faced multiple charges, including aggravated battery on an officer.
Beach patrols and local context
Town records show that Surfside officers routinely patrol the beach, hardpack, jogging paths and Collins Avenue, and that calls from the shoreline and nearby condominium properties are a regular part of their workload. Those weekly reports help explain how quickly officers arrived at this week's call for help behind the Collins Avenue condo.
Detectives are still investigating the incident. Court records will eventually show whether prosecutors choose to formally file the full set of charges listed in the arrest report.
