Miami man forces way inside woman's home, holds her at knifepoint, police say

Jason Velasquez later found wearing woman's watch, in possession of her keys

Police say Jason Velasquez forced his way inside a Miami home and held a woman at knifepoint.

MIAMI ā€“ A Miami man is accused of forcing his way inside a woman's home and threatening to kill her before getting away with her property, police said.

Jason Velasquez, 22, was arrested Sunday on charges of home-invasion robbery and false imprisonment.

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Miami police said the woman heard a noise outside her door, so she unlocked the door to investigate and Velasquez pushed it open.

A struggle ensued, and Velasquez eventually got his hands around the woman's neck, choking her and knocking her to the ground to get inside the home on Southwest Seventh Street, police said.

Velasquez held the woman at knifepoint and demanded her property, police said.

When the woman's family came to her door to check on her, Velasquez told her to tell them that she was OK or else he would kill her, police said.

Velasquez stuffed the woman's property into plastic bags, told her not to move and then fled, police said.

After Velasquez left, the woman screamed for help, and a witness who saw Velasquez running away chased him, police said.

Velasquez threw the woman's belongings into a recycling bin during the chase, and the witness eventually lost sight of him, police said.

A police officer on patrol later spotted Velasquez, who matched a description of the woman's attacker, near Southwest 25th Avenue and Southwest Eighth Street.

Police said Velasquez was wearing the woman's watch on his arm and had her car keys in his pocket.


About the Author:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.