Latest news with #HCAKendallHospital
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Dad surrenders after slamming 5-year-old, causing a ‘brain injury,' deputies say
Miami-Dade deputies spent almost four hours talking a man out of his barricaded apartment after he allegedly slammed his son against a wall, injuring the 5-year-old, and battering two other children Saturday afternoon, authorities say. Around 2 p.m., Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office deputies rushed to International Park apartments, 2055 SW 122nd Ave., after being alerted to a father battering children. Authorities learned Brice Martinez, 33, assaulted his son and hurt his 8- and 2-year-old in the first-floor apartment near Tamiami Park. While caring for his kids, Martinez got upset with his 5-year-old and slammed his head into the wall three times, according to his arrest report. He continued his attack by throwing his two-year-old son on the concrete, causing pain to his back. When his 8-year-old son tried to intervene and help his siblings, Martinez punched him in the face, which caused a 'contusion,' deputies said. The 5-year-old was taken to HCA Kendall Hospital by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, where he had to get five staples to the head. Doctors also said he had a 'frontal hematoma' and was admitted to the hospital with a 'traumatic brain injury.' The 2- and 8-year-old were treated at the apartment complex by fire crews and then released to their mother, Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office Spokesperson Samantha Choon said. Martinez barricaded himself inside the apartment and spent hours refusing to listen to the deputies' commands to come out. MDSO's Special Response Team surrounded the building, smashed glass windows and tossed in gas canisters. Deputies initially said he was in the apartment alone, and did not know if he had weapons. 'Time was on our side, and we were going to try to talk to him,' Choon said. '...to convince him to come out of the property to surrender himself. Sometimes that doesn't happen, and they did have to break a couple of windows.' By early afternoon, a negotiator's voice crackled over a megaphone. A chaotic moment posted to the OnlyinDade social media platform captured heavily armed law enforcement officers surrounding the area. 'Come out with your hands up,' a negotiator called out in English and Spanish. 'Let us help you,' Michel Sanchez, owner of a painting company, said he heard the pops of gas canisters and shattered glass. Police came in large numbers with high-powered rifles. Then he witnessed the father surrender. It was 5:30 p.m. Martinez was arrested by deputies. Choon said he would be charged accordingly, but precisely what he will face is unclear. Authorities also did not know who called 911, but praised them for stepping in and raising attention to what could have been a more dangerous situation. 'Whoever called [911], thank you to them,' Choon said. 'Anyone who suspects or believes a child may be being abused, please call us. Say something and report it.' A month before Martinez's arrest Saturday, he'd been charged with violently assaulting his father, court records show. On May 15, Hialeah police officers were called to an apartment complex and discovered a man with blood all over his face, an arrest report read. The victim told authorities his son, Martinez, had beaten him because he wouldn't give him his car keys. The injured man, who was not identified, had swelling in his left eye and jaw, with bruising on his forehead. Martinez was arrested and charged with battery the next day. His court case on the May battery is still open, and he bonded out of jail two weeks ago, records show. Martinez's brush with the law doesn't end there, as he's had a litany of criminal charges filed against him in Miami-Dade and Broward counties over the last decade, court records show. In Broward, Martinez was charged with driving under the influence after he sped a car into a security gate at the FBI's headquarters in Miramar in November 2023. He had taken cocaine and other drugs at the time of the crash. Apart from the beating and crash, Martinez has also faced charges of battery, robbery, criminal mischief and assault of a police officer, firefighter or paramedic. Some of these cases were thrown out, but he was given a seven-year probation sentence for a robbery in 2016.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Family of 9-year-old boy killed by stray bullet in Florida City sues apartment complex
On the night of Nov. 16, 9-year-old Antavious Scott was outside playing football with a group of friends at the Southpoint Crossing apartment complex in Florida City when a hail of shots rang out. As the gunfire quieted along West Lucy Street, Antavious was lying on the ground, shot in the back. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue paramedics airlifted him to HCA Kendall Hospital, where he died. The area surrounding Southpoint Crossing can be dangerous with gang activity. There were four shootings in the vicinity of the housing complex the week before Antavious — called TayTay by family and friends — was killed. READ MORE: 'He should be alive.' Family, friends mourn death of 9-year-old boy in Florida City Yet, the gate to drive into Southpoint Crossing remains stuck open to this day. It was designed to only open when residents punch a number into the call box. Additionally, there are no security patrols that could keep an eye out for who's coming in and out or to notify police if trouble is brewing. The lack of security measures prompted Antavious' family, including his mother, Shanika Williams and grandmother Teretha Williams, to sue the owners of Southpoint Crossing — Boston, Massachusetts-based Preservation of Affordable Housing, Inc., known as POAH. The negligence, wrongful death lawsuit was filed in Miami-Dade County court Monday, and the family held a press conference Tuesday morning with their lawyer, Miami crime victim attorney Michael Haggard of the Haggard Law Firm, in a field across the street from Southpoint Crossing. 'If there had been security, my grandson would be here today,' Teretha Williams said. Haggard told reporters that POAH is a large company, managing 14,000 apartments nationwide, with 22,000 residential renters. That means it can afford to pay for security, especially in buildings located in high-crime areas. 'Had they provided proper security, this wouldn't have happened,' Haggard told reporters. 'Believe me, they have the resources.' READ MORE: A 9-year-old boy was shot and killed in Florida City, and a teen has been arrested Emphasizing the senselessness of a 9-year-old child dying in a barrage of bullets likely meant for someone else, Haggard recalled coaching youth football for a decade in Miami-Dade, mentoring many boys Antavious' age. 'I have coached hundreds of TayTays,' Haggard said, noting, 'not only was he taken from this family, but taken from the community.' The homicide investigation surrounding Antavious' death is being handled by Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office detectives, who conduct homicide investigations for several small municipalities located in the county, like Florida City. They arrested 20-year-old Montreal Santovae Jackson, Jr. in February and charged him with second-degree murder. Detectives say Jackson and another man are seen on security camera footage casing out Southpoint Crossing while armed. The footage then shows them driving into the area in a 2015 Volkswagen sedan, walking into an open field from where detectives say the bullets were fired, and subsequently running toward their car, according to Jackson's arrest report. Investigators found several bullet casings from both .40 caliber and 9mm handguns in the field, according to their report. Detectives have not arrested the man they say was Jackson's accomplice. Jackson remains in Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on no bond pending trial. Shanika was was red-eyed from crying during the press conference. Remembering Antavious, she recalled the innocent pursuits of youth he too enjoyed. 'Antavious meant the world to me. He was my everything. My baby loved to play football,' she said. 'To play video games.' Teretha Williams said the loss of Antavious is something the family will never get over and are still struggling with six months later. 'It's hard to live my life and watch my daughter in this situation,' she said. 'I don't have the words to say to my daughter.' When reached Tuesday about the lawsuit, Maria Plati, senior communications director for POAH, said the company could not comment on the case. 'We are deeply saddened by the loss of Antavious and extend our heartfelt condolences to his mother, Shanika Williams, and other family members. Due to the pending litigation involving this tragic incident, at the moment, we cannot offer comments on this matter or the public claims made by Antavious Scott's family and their attorney during today's press conference.'
Miami Herald
23-04-2025
- Miami Herald
Family of 9-year-old boy killed by stray bullet in Florida City sues apartment complex
On the night of Nov. 16, 9-year-old Antavious Scott was outside playing football with a group of friends at the Southpoint Crossing apartment complex in Florida City when a hail of shots rang out. As the gunfire quieted along West Lucy Street, Antavious was lying on the ground, shot in the back. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue paramedics airlifted him to HCA Kendall Hospital, where he died. The area surrounding Southpoint Crossing can be dangerous with gang activity. There were four shootings in the vicinity of the housing complex the week before Antavious — called TayTay by family and friends — was killed. READ MORE: 'He should be alive.' Family, friends mourn death of 9-year-old boy in Florida City Yet, the gate to drive into Southpoint Crossing remains stuck open to this day. It was designed to only open when residents punch a number into the call box. Additionally, there are no security patrols that could keep an eye out for who's coming in and out or to notify police if trouble is brewing. The lack of security measures prompted Antavious' family, including his mother, Shanika Williams and grandmother Teretha Williams, to sue the owners of Southpoint Crossing — Boston, Massachusetts-based Preservation of Affordable Housing, Inc., known as POAH. The negligence, wrongful death lawsuit was filed in Miami-Dade County court Monday, and the family held a press conference Tuesday morning with their attorney, Miami criminal defense attorney Michael Haggard of the Haggard Law Firm, in a field across the street from Southpoint Crossing. 'If there had been security, my grandson would be here today,' Teretha Williams said. Haggard told reporters that POAH is a large company, managing 14,000 apartments nationwide, with 22,000 residential renters. That means it can afford to pay for security, especially in buildings located in high-crime areas. 'Had they provided proper security, this wouldn't have happened,' Haggard told reporters. 'Believe me, they have the resources.' READ MORE: A 9-year-old boy was shot and killed in Florida City, and a teen has been arrested Emphasizing the senselessness of a 9-year-old child dying in a barrage of bullets likely meant for someone else, Haggard recalled coaching youth football for a decade in Miami-Dade, mentoring many boys Antavious' age. 'I have coached hundreds of TayTays,' Haggard said, noting, 'not only was he taken from this family, but taken from the community.' The homicide investigation surrounding Antavious' death is being handled by Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office detectives, who conduct homicide investigations for several small municipalities located in the county, like Florida City. They arrested 20-year-old Montreal Santovae Jackson, Jr. in February and charged him with second-degree murder. Detectives say Jackson and another man are seen on security camera footage casing out Southpoint Crossing while armed. The footage then shows them driving into the area in a 2015 Volkswagen sedan, walking into an open field from where detectives say the bullets were fired, and subsequently running toward their car, according to Jackson's arrest report. Investigators found several bullet casings from both .40 caliber and 9mm handguns in the field, according to their report. Detectives have not arrested the man they say was Jackson's accomplice. Jackson remains in Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on no bond pending trial. Shanika was was red-eyed from crying during the press conference. Remembering Antavious, she recalled the innocent pursuits of youth he too enjoyed. 'Antavious meant the world to me. He was my everything. My baby loved to play football,' she said. 'To play video games.' Teretha Williams said the loss of Antavious is something the family will never get over and are still struggling with six months later. 'It's hard to live my life and watch my daughter in this situation,' she said. 'I don't have the words to say to my daughter.' When reached for comment Tuesday about the lawsuit, Maria Plati, senior communications director for POAH, said the company could not comment on the case. 'We are deeply saddened by the loss of Antavious and extend our heartfelt condolences to his mother, Shanika Williams, and other family members. Due to the pending litigation involving this tragic incident, at the moment, we cannot offer comments on this matter or the public claims made by Antavious Scott's family and their attorney during today's press conference.'
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Miami Herald
19-03-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
After being fired at Mount Sinai, a Kendall nurse swapped surgery fentanyl for saline
Being a fentanyl thief while working at Miami Beach's Mount Sinai Medical Center cost a registered nurse his nursing license and a little freedom. Doing the same thing while working at HCA Kendall Hospital cost Emmanuel Valentin the rest of his freedom. Valentin, 40, was sentenced in Miami federal court Monday to two years, two months in federal prison after pleading guilty to tampering with consumer products, specifically swapping fentanyl for saline while at HCA Kendall. He was already on state probation until May 15, 2027, for theft of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance, crimes that occurred while he worked at Mount Sinai. READ MORE: A nurse employed by hospitals in Miami Beach and Kendall swapped fentanyl for saline The Mount Sinai fentanyl thefts got Valentin fired in March 2023. Despite this, Valentin got hired at HCA Kendall, formerly known as Kendall Regional, in July 2023. 'At the time HCA Kendall hired Valentin, they were not aware that Mount Sinai had fired him for diversion of fentanyl in March 2023,' Valentin's admission of facts with his guilty plea says. 'It is not known if this was inadequate reporting to the Board of Nursing or for some other reason. Valentin did not disclose that his prior employment was terminated and why.' An email sent by the Herald to HCA Kendall Human Resources through the hospital's website hasn't been answered yet. According to state documents, Mount Sinai filed a complaint on Sept. 19, 2023, with the Florida Department of Health about Valentin's fentanyl 'diversion' in March. That complaint was filed 29 days after HCA Kendall filed a complaint with the Department of Health about Valentin's fentanyl thefts there. An FDA expert anesthesiologist Dr. Arthur Simone was prepared to testify, 'Fentanyl injections are used to provide pain and relief during and after surgery' and 'fentanyl is often used in conjunction with other medicines (including midazolam) before and during an operation as part of the overall anesthesia plan.' Caught on camera HCA Kendall required nurses to get fentanyl and midazolam from a Pyxis machine. Staffers entered their personal access code and fingerprint, get drug vials, count the vials left and enter that number in the Pyxis machine. On Aug. 16, 2023, a co-worker coming into came into a room with a Pyxis machine and saw Valentin holding an opened vial of midazolam with the seal removed. 'The seal should not have been broken until it was being administered to the patient,' Valentin's guilty plea says. The co-worker saw 'the vial was only half full. Valentine explained that he had mistakenly thought that (the co-worker's) patient was his patient and that was why he was removing the midazolam vial.' Upon hearing of this incident, HCA Kendall checked surveillance video for the four labs with Pyxis machines from Aug. 9 through Aug. 16, 2023. What they saw: 'Valentin would remove fentanyl and midazolam vials from the Pyxis machine and remove the drug from the vial with a syringe and insert saline solution from an IV bag in its place.' 'Valentine would retrieve discarded vials from the biohazard waste bin and re-use them with saline to replace fentanyl vials he would steal.'
