Miami firefighter suspended with pay after alleged attack

Reynaldo Miranda appears in bond court Wednesday

CUTLER BAY, Fla. – Reynaldo Miranda was in no mood to speak as he left jail Wednesday night, but the 47-year-old seasoned firefighter did have plenty to say to a judge earlier in the day.

"I've been a firefighter for 29 years, ma'am," Miranda said. "I have a perfect record at work and a perfect record in the streets, ma'am. I've never been arrested. I've never done anything wrong."

"Obviously, you got in trouble yesterday," the judge said.

Tuesday, Miranda was parked in his truck in a parking lot near Southland Mall in Cutler Bay when he became enraged after a 71-year-old man pulled up and "parked too close," according to a police report.

Miranda, standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 205 pounds, yelled and screamed at the 5 feet 5 inches tall, 128 pound elderly man before things allegedly turned physical.

"The guy seemed to be explaining himself when the guy who was aggressive started punching," a witness said. "I seen at least three punches and I'm like, 'Oh my goodness, is he gonna beat this elderly guy?'"

The witness, who wants to remain anonymous, said she was driving by at the time and witnessed the attack.

"So I continued to drive west and I made a U-turn," she said.

She said the 71-year-old was in the driver's seat with his hands on the steering wheel as Miranda delivered the blows while standing outside the car.

"I just found out today the guy was a firefighter, so it was very disturbing that someone will beat someone just because," she said.

"I'm ordering that you stay away from the victim and you understand that stay away order?" the judge asked Miranda.

"I don't know the victim. Yes ma'am," Miranda said.

"You obviously need to go to an anger management class, too," the judge said.

Miranda has been suspended with pay pending an investigation.


About the Author:

Terrell Forney joined Local 10 News in October 2005 as a general assignment reporter. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, but a desire to escape the harsh winters of the north brought him to South Florida.