Security cameras at the Sherbrooke Hotel were rolling Tuesday night when a quiet stretch of Ninth Street near Collins Avenue abruptly turned into a takedown scene, after detectives said they tracked a man wanted in a North Miami gas station burglary. Officers boxed in an unmarked vehicle, ordered the occupants to walk backward and then placed them in handcuffs, a tense moment that quickly drew bystanders and a wave of cellphone recording. Police identified the man taken into custody as 23-year-old Coral Gables resident Alexis Martinez, while two other men at the scene were detained for questioning and later released.
The break-in and pursuit
As reported by WSVN, Miami Police’s Tactical Robbery Units moved in after investigators said Martinez entered a gas station at North Miami Avenue and 53rd Street and tried to force open the enclosed cashier’s window. The station reported that employees were attacked during the confrontation and that one worker later sent a photo of a scuffed forearm to 7News. Detectives told WSVN a friend was waiting in a nearby getaway car that headed south toward I-395 and was tracked into Miami Beach before officers boxed it in.
Legal stakes
Martinez faces a charge of burglary with assault or battery, an offense the State of Florida treats as especially serious when an assault or battery occurs during the crime. Under Florida Statute 810.02, burglary "with assault or battery" is a first-degree felony, according to Florida Statutes, and can carry steep prison terms if prosecutors prove the elevated elements. Because the alleged incident involves employee injuries and video evidence, investigators are likely to rely on surveillance footage and witness accounts as the case moves forward.
Sherbrooke cameras captured the arrest
The takedown was recorded on the Sherbrooke Hotel’s security cameras, and owner Mitch Novick provided the footage to local TV, calling the clip "really captivating" in comments to reporters. According to WSVN, officers can be heard shouting commands as they order the men to back up before moving in with handcuffs. Novick has repeatedly shared surveillance video from his property with outlets documenting street incidents, as earlier reporting by Local10 shows.
What happens next
Police took Martinez to jail after the arrest, while the two other men were released following questioning, and investigators said the probe remains active. The case will move through the booking and charging process, where prosecutors will decide whether to file formal counts consistent with the allegations. Investigators have asked anyone with information about the North Miami gas station burglary to contact law enforcement.
