'I will blow this s*** up,' man yelled at MIA before attacking CBP officer, authorities say

Nivaldo Emilio Lopez accused of striking officer with fists, trashcan lid

MIAMI – More details were released Friday morning about an incident at Miami International Airport earlier this week that resulted in one man's arrest.

According to an arrest affidavit, Nivaldo Emilio Lopez parked his car curbside outside Terminal D and entered the airport.

Authorities said Lopez began to walk back and forth between checkpoints in the terminal, waving his arms in the air and yelling loudly.

"He walked in there where people were checking their bags and just started screaming," witness Orlando Perez said. "They just started screaming back and forth, and then I saw one of the TSA guys say, 'Call the cops,' because he was screaming louder and louder and louder."

At one point, Lopez yelled, "I will blow this s*** up," the affidavit stated.

Authorities said a witness notified a Customs and Border Protection officer, who tried to calm Lopez down.

But authorities said Lopez continued to be aggressive toward the officer, saying, "You want a piece of me?"

The officer grabbed his baton and held it at the low-ready position when Lopez swung at the officer, hitting him in the head, authorities said.

A TSA officer saw the officer struggling with Lopez and attempted to help subdue the suspect.

Authorities said Lopez grabbed a trashcan lid that was nearby and struck the officer in the face and head area. Authorities also said Lopez bit the officer in the hand, causing severe bleeding that required medical attention at a hospital.

Miami-Dade police officers eventually arrived at the scene and deployed a Taser to detain Lopez, the affidavit stated.

"They held him down, but he didn't want to be held down and it took like four or five cops -- it took a little while," Perez said. 

Lopez was arrested and charged with assaulting a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer.

He was assigned a federal public defender on Thursday, and his next court hearing is scheduled for Tuesday. 

 

 


About the Author:

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