Latest news with #MiamiBeachPolice
CBS News
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Traffic crash with injuries shuts down eastbound lanes of MacArthur Causeway, Miami Beach police say
A crash with injuries shut down all eastbound lanes of the MacArthur Causeway Saturday afternoon, according to Miami Beach police. The Miami Beach Police Department said in a post on X at 4:26 p.m. that officers were on scene near Watson Island and urged drivers to seek alternate routes. Authorities have not released details about the number of vehicles involved or the extent of the injuries. Emergency crews remained at the scene, and the cause of the crash is under investigation. The MacArthur Causeway is a major route connecting downtown Miami to Miami Beach, and the closure is expected to impact traffic in the area. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
CBS News
10-03-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Miami Beach Police will utilize drones, real-time intelligence center during spring break
Miami Beach is anticipating a busy spring break season with thousands of people expected to visit. To help keep residents and visitors alike safe, police are going high tech. On Monday, Miami Beach Police unveiled their new Real Time Intelligence Center (RTIC) and launch of the Skydio's Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program. The department is the first agency in the state, one of only five departments nationwide, to implement Sykdio's DFR program. According to police, the center and drone program will allow them to monitor and respond to incidents in real-time, particularly during the high-impact spring break weekends. "Miami Beach is at the forefront of pioneering technology to revolutionize public safety," Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner said in a statement. "The Real Time Intelligence Center and Drone as a First Responder Program equip our police department with exceptional tools, ensuring swift and decisive action to protect our community." Police will be able to make data driven decisions The $2 million RTIC will serve as the central hub for the police department's advanced observation, analytics, detection, and intelligence operations. Multiple sources will be feeding data into the center in real time. According to police, the RTIC integrates approximately 850 cameras, providing over 1,600 views across Miami Beach. The center will also monitor 30 license plate readers, which will identify vehicles associated with criminal activity, and the RADII Marine Radar system which provides live monitoring of maritime activity. The intelligence center will also monitor for threats or public safety concerns on social media. "Our city is establishing a benchmark for law enforcement agencies throughout the nation; illustrating how technology can be effectively utilized to enhance public safety while ensuring transparency and accountability," Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne A. Jones said in a statement. Eyes in the sky The Miami Beach Police Department is the first agency in Miami-Dade County to receive a Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Waiver, allowing for drone operations beyond the direct line of sight of an operator. The Skydio X10 drone is a cutting-edge quadcopter designed for law enforcement applications. Operated directly from the RTIC, these drones will give officers "real time situational awareness" to any public safety issue.
CBS News
25-02-2025
- CBS News
Driver in horrific MacArthur Causeway crash now charged with vehicular homicide
A driver who police said was responsible for the horrific crash on the MacArthur Causeway last week that sent a young woman to the hospital fighting for her life and another injured is facing a new charge. Nicholas Robinson, 24, was originally charged with DUI and reckless driving both resulting in serious bodily injury after he crashed into 18-year-old Gabriela Rios Flores' car in the early hours of Friday morning, according to the arrest report. On Tuesday, Miami Beach police said Flores had died Monday night from injuries sustained in the crash and charges against Robinson had been upgraded to include vehicular homicide. According to arrest documents, Robinson was driving a silver Polestar Model 2 that collided with Flores' Jeep Wrangler, which was disabled on the left side of westbound lanes of the MacArthur Causeway, just west of Terminal Isle. The crash Moments before the crash, a Miami Beach Police K-9 officer helped push Flores' Jeep out of the roadway and onto the shoulder to get out of the way of traffic. Once the officer made a U-turn on Bridge Road to head east, he saw a silver sedan—later revealed to be Robinson's Polestar—speeding west at an estimated 100 mph in a 40 mph zone, the arrest documents said. At that time, the officer saw Robinson lose control of his car and begin to swerve. Robinson's Polestar then struck a cement road divider and continued driving forward until it struck the back of Flores' Jeep. This caused her car to overturn another road divider and eject her from the vehicle. Another person in the Jeep was also injured in the crash. A Miami Beach Police sergeant, who was driving west on the causeway, raced to the crash scene and conducted a traffic stop and ordered Robinson to step out of the car. As he was being detained, Robinson spontaneously asked the sergeant "Why are you stopping me, it's my birthday and did you get the other car," appearing to be completely unaware that he had just caused a serious car crash, the arrest documents said. When a Miami Beach Police detective arrived at the crash site, he noted that exhibited "possible signs of impairment," according to the arrest report. Robinson reportedly told the detective that he was out celebrating his birthday at a lounge. According to the arrest documents, Robinson had slurred speech and an odor of an alcoholic beverage, prompting the detective to ask him to take a blood test; however, Robinson refused. Due to the circumstances surrounding the crash, detectives requested Miami Beach Fire Rescue to draw Robinson's blood while on the scene once a search warrant was obtained. He was then taken to the Miami Beach Police Station for processing.
CBS News
20-02-2025
- CBS News
Hungarian national accused of murdering 2 men in Miami Beach and Little Havana, arrest warrant says
MIAMI — A Hungarian national is facing murder charges after two separate death investigations in Miami-Dade County found him to be the person responsible, an arrest warrant said. Zsolt Zsolyomi, 25, was arrested Wednesday night on the charge of second-degree murder for his alleged involvement in death investigations coming out of Miami Beach and the Miami neighborhood of Little Havana. Zsolyomi, a reported Hungarian national, is currently being held without bond. The Miami Beach murder The case that put Zsolyomi behind bars began as a homicide investigation in Miami Beach back in November. Just after 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 21, Miami Beach Police were told of a dead man found inside an apartment on 1010 Pennsylvania Ave. Once officers arrived, they met with the man's family and identified the victim as 66-year-old Carlos Alonso Villaquiran. According to the warrant, Villaquiran's family became concerned about his well-being when he didn't show up to work that morning. They repeatedly tried to contact his phone to no avail before heading to his apartment to check on him. The family then knocked on his front door but still got no response, so they borrowed a spare key from the property manager and entered the apartment. Once inside, the family quickly found Villaquiran in the bathroom, "unresponsive and not breathing," the warrant said. The family then called 911, prompting police and Miami Beach Fire Rescue to respond. Despite paramedics' arrival, Villaquiran died at the scene. Per Miami Beach Police procedures, homicide detectives were assigned to investigate. When detectives arrived, they found Villaquiran "face down in the bathtub with his head and upper body partially submerged in approximately 6.5 inches of water," the warrant said. The warrant also noted that Villaquiran was an amputee of his right leg below the knee. It did not specify how he partially lost his leg and the initial examination of his body did not reveal any exterior trauma. The initial investigation revealed that a Nest camera mounted on the second floor near the building's stairs captured a man — later identified as Zsolyomi — wearing dark clothing and a baseball cap, entering and exiting Villaquiran's apartment numerous times between 9:30 and 11:30 p.m. the night before his body was found. The final time Zsolyomi is seen exiting the apartment, he's seen locking the door with a key and no other people are seen interacting with the apartment after that moment. Villaquiran's brother told police that he didn't see his brother's car — a 2002 Honda CRV — parked in its usual space and couldn't find it anywhere nearby. Following a search of its license plate, investigators found that Villaquiran's car was last seen driving west on the MacArthur Causeway just after 11:55 p.m., at least 20 minutes after Zsolyomi was last seen at the apartment. It was also revealed that Villaquiran's car and house keys were missing from the apartment, the warrant said. The next day, the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's Department performed an autopsy on Villaquiran's body, which revealed that he had died of "homicidal violence to include strangulation" after the medical examiner found that he had sustained internal trauma to both sides of his neck, a fractured left rib and a broken hyoid bone — a small bone located in the front of the neck and below the jaw. The revelation led to the suspicious death being ruled as a murder. During a forensics search of Villaquiran's iPhone, detectives found a lengthy text conversation between him and another man named "Thomas," showing clear signs that they had an "intimate relationship" and would frequently meet at Villaquiran's apartment. However, their focus quickly turned to one conversation in particular. Detectives discovered a conversation where the two men agreed to meet on Halloween at Villaquiran's apartment before going out on Lincoln Road. Detectives then reviewed surveillance video from that time, which showed Villaquiran and "Thomas" leaving and returning to the apartment on Halloween. They also found photos of the two together from that night, showing "Thomas" wearing an ankle monitor, the warrant said. As their forensics investigation continued, detectives found that several days after Halloween, the texts between the two men became "contentious" where Villaquiran accused "Thomas" of assaulting him and stealing his property. "[Villaquiran] is seen saying 'I can't believe what you did to me and what you took from me,' and then sending 'Thomas' a picture of a prominent injury to his right eye," the warrant said. The warrant continued, saying that "Thomas" had first denied causing the injury before saying "Sometimes I don't know what I do when I'm drunk" and apologized repeatedly to Villaquiran. Villaquiran is then seen asking "Thomas" repeatedly to return his phone and property before filing a police report. "Thomas" then responds by asking him not to call the police and if he can come over to the apartment to return Villaquiran's items. However, Villaquiran denied "Thomas'" request, saying he was afraid of him and "does not want to see him ever again," the warrant said. Further examination of the texts revealed that Villaquiran had discovered that "Thomas" was just an alias for Zsolyomi, telling him that he knew his real name and that he would be going straight to the police with the new information to report the assault and theft. Upon further review, detectives then learned that Zsolyomi is a Hungarian national who is currently listed as an "illegal overstay" by Customs and Border Protection and was fixed with a GPS ankle monitor after he was released from custody following a Miami Beach arrest in July 2024. The warrant said that Zsolyomi told police his name was "Thomas Kray" at the time of this arrest. After cross-referencing his phone number with the number "Thomas" was using, detectives further confirmed that they were the same man. During the investigation, detectives also learned that Villaquiran's Honda was involved in a hit-and-run on the night of his murder at the intersection of SW 13th St. 22nd Ave. in Miami, where witnesses claimed they saw a man who resembled Zsolyomi exiting the car and running away from the crash. Detectives then went to the tow yard where Villaquiran's car was stored and brought it to Miami Beach Police's forensics lab, where they processed fingerprints that matched Zsolyomi's. The Little Havana death On Jan. 20, Miami Beach Police detectives were then advised of another case coming out from Miami, where the City of Miami Police were investigating a suspicious death that happened the day before. According to initial reports, a dead man was discovered sitting in the driver seat of a car found near NW 2nd St. 14th Ave. in Little Havana. The man's death was determined to be a murder by the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's Department. According to the warrant, surveillance video from a nearby home caught a man, who resembled Zsolyomi, getting out of the car's passenger side, jumping over the vehicle and running away. After processing fingerprints found on the car, investigators were able to determine that it was Zsolyomi. After cross-referencing pictures and fingerprints from both the Miami Beach and Little Havana murders, police obtained a warrant for Zsolyomi's arrest and took him into custody on Wednesday night.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Yahoo
$300K Rolls-Royce Stolen in South Beach Recovered in Luxury Auto Theft Crackdown
Read the full story on Modern Car Collector A $300,000 Rolls-Royce stolen in South Beach has been recovered as part of a sweeping crackdown on an elaborate luxury car theft ring, authorities confirmed. The Rolls-Royce, owned by Detroit resident Nader Eldamouni, was intercepted by thieves while en route to Michigan. It has since been found and is currently parked at the Miami Beach Police headquarters on Washington Avenue, awaiting its return to Eldamouni. "Thank you so much for helping me find my car," Eldamouni said, expressing relief weeks after the theft. A rare Rolls-Royce was among several high-end vehicles that were recovered by police in what detectives describe as an elaborate auto theft ring. — WSVN 7 News (@wsvn) February 14, 2025 Miami Beach detectives uncovered a complex scheme in which criminals exploited vehicle dispatchers and transporters, rerouting luxury cars without owners realizing it. The investigation revealed that suspects manipulated transport orders, diverting shipments to fraudulent locations. Eldamouni's 2020 Rolls-Royce Dawn, with its distinctive orange top and seats, was stolen in January when an unauthorized transport order kept the vehicle from ever leaving South Florida. 'This is an extremely sophisticated and complex investigation because it represents a new crime trend,' Miami Beach Police Officer Christopher Bess explained. Just days after local news broke the story, officers arrested three men in Aventura in connection with the crime. During a January 31 court appearance, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy S. Glazer listed the charges against them, including grand theft, dealing in stolen property, and organized fraud. While initial arrests led to the recovery of several stolen SUVs, Eldamouni's Rolls remained missing—until now. 'This case exemplifies the diligent investigative efforts of our detectives in identifying and dismantling a complex criminal network specializing in the theft of luxury vehicles,' said Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne Jones. 'To date, our detectives have collectively recovered approximately $5.3 million in stolen luxury vehicles.' Exclusive video captured the moment Eldamouni's prized Rolls-Royce was towed to police headquarters, marking a significant victory in the ongoing investigation. 'I call you every day. You call me back and give me all the updates. Thank you so much,' Eldamouni said, grateful for law enforcement's dedication to the case. Authorities believe this recovery may be just the beginning. Multiple agencies are working to determine if additional high-end vehicles are tied to the same theft ring. For now, Eldamouni is preparing to fly back to Miami to reclaim his Rolls-Royce. 'I will see you in Miami and pick up the car,' he said. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
