Former city of Miami employee arrested on drug trafficking charges

Pedro Torres, 56, remains in jail after November arrest

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A former city of Miami employee remains in jail after he was caught selling thousands of dollars' worth of cocaine, detectives said.

Pedro Torres, 56, was arrested last Nov. 19 on charges of armed cocaine trafficking, cocaine trafficking, possession of cocaine with the intent to sell and possession of a weapon while committing an offense.

According to an arrest report, a DEA source notified the Broward Sheriff's Office about Torres, claiming he was selling large amounts of cocaine and heroin in Miami-Dade County.

An undercover BSO detective called Torres and arranged to meet at Torres' home in Miami so the detective could purchase 32 grams of cocaine for $1,380, the report said.

The detective said Torres showed him 459 grams of cocaine during the visit and he later went back and flashed $35,000, which he said he would pay for two kilograms of cocaine.

According to the report, the undercover detective made a small hole in the center of the kilo to examine the contents. He them told Torres that he needed to go back to his car to get the money.

Police said Torres followed the detective outside, where he was taken into custody.

Police said Torres signed a Miami-Dade Miranda waiver and consent to search form.

The contents found in Torres' home, according to the report, include:

-Shopping bag with 2 kilograms of cocaine

-Large plastic blue tube, which contained about 400 grams of cocaine

-Bag with digital scale with cocaine residue

-63 grams of cocaine individually packaged for street level narcotics sales

-$377 in U.S. currency

-Smith and Wesson .38-caliber revolver.

A loaded .357 magnum was also found underneath the driver's seat of Torres' car, police said.

Torres previously worked for the Miami Public Works Department beginning in 1994 and he was fired shortly after his arrest.

"City of Miami employees are strictly prohibited from engaging in illegal activities on or off the job," City of Miami Manager Daniel Alfonso said. "Mr. Torres was terminated shortly after his arrest, effective November 23. The City has no knowledge of Mr. Torres engaging in drug trafficking during his time of employment."


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Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.