A 53-year-old Miami Beach man went from valet line to jail cell after police say he blew up at attendants outside a Mid-Beach condo, allegedly pointed a gun at a worker and then drove off. Surfside officers later stopped his car and recovered handguns from the vehicle, authorities said. He was booked on felony counts and ordered to stay away from two victims, according to court records.
A witness told police the man kept about 10 firearms at home and had “become increasingly unwell,” and officers responded to the valet area at the Seacoast on Collins Avenue after the disturbance, according to Local 10. Investigators say the man left a silver Hyundai Sonata parked in the valet lane for more than 40 minutes and erupted after a parking-violation sticker went on his window. Witnesses told officers he ripped off the sticker, shoved an employee and then got back into the Hyundai with a gun, the arrest report states.
Stopped In Surfside After Be-On-The-Lookout
Surfside police later pulled over the silver Hyundai near Collins Avenue and 93rd Street and reported the driver showed signs of impairment, including bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. An officer said the man smelled of alcohol and, when asked why he had been stopped, he allegedly replied, “Yeah, probably because I pulled a firearm on someone,” according to WSVN. Not the sort of line that helps during a traffic stop.
Weapons Seized And Charges
Police recovered two handguns from the vehicle, which Miami Beach records identify as a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield and a Springfield XD 9mm. Investigators booked the suspect on felony counts including burglary with assault or battery and aggravated assault with a firearm, according to Local 10. Authorities also noted he had an outstanding warrant for driving under the influence, and a judge ordered him to stay away from two victims. Court records show the man posted a $5,000 bond, and Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Richard Hersch was set to preside over the case.
What The Law Says
Under Florida law, an aggravated assault carried out with a deadly weapon is a third-degree felony, while burglary “with an assault or battery” can be prosecuted as a first-degree felony, which both carry significantly heavier penalties than simple misdemeanors, per the Florida Statutes. See the state's statutory language on aggravated assault and burglary in the Florida Statutes and in this related Florida Statutes section. Prosecutors will decide how to proceed as investigators and the court continue the case.
