MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A homeless man arrested in connection with a possible hate crime at a Miami Beach synagogue was found by police on Thursday after he escaped a halfway house for mentally ill people earlier in the week.
With the Jewish High Holy Days beginning at sundown, Miami Beach police took to the streets with fliers in hand in the hopes that someone could lead them to Maximo de la Cruz-de Jesus.
On Thursday someone flagged down a police officer and told them they had seen de la Cruz-de Jesus.
Police said De la Cruz-de Jesus, 43, was sent to the Harbor House mental health/special needs facility after his arrest Sept. 9 for defacing a banner at Temple Emanu-El.
Officials said he drew a swastika, KKK and a skull for no known reason. At the time of his arrest, his attorney argued De la Cruz-de Jesus suffered from mental illnesses, including schizophrenia.
The state attorney's office was notified that Sunday De la Cruz-de Jesus was missing and likely scaled the facility's fence. The facility, however, said it has no authority to force a patient to stay without their consent anyways.
Police said they received several leads, as the suspect is a well known homeless man in the city of Miami Beach.
The news of his escape follows several other anti-Semitic vandalism cases being investigated across South Florida and the unsolved murder of a Rabbi.
Security measures at synagogues across the area have been increased since the vandalism occurred.
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