MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A man could be spending quite some time behind bars after Miami-Dade police say he battered two of their officers Wednesday following a burglary investigation at a local hotel.
Miami-Dade police said they were dispatched just before 9:30 a.m. March 15 to the Holiday Inn Express, located at 2601 NW 42nd Ave., in response to a reported burglary.
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A police officer spoke with the hotel manager who reported that an unknown individual had entered a room on the second floor of the hotel and had stolen a refrigerator.
The manager stated the room had been left slightly open to air out after the previous client had smoked in the room, according to an arrest report.
Police said surveillance footage showed Francisco Andres Arias-Hernandez, 34, of Miami Beach, entering the second floor around 3 p.m. on March 14.
At around 3:30 p.m., that day, police said Arias-Hernandez was observed exiting the room wearing a mask and carrying the stolen refrigerator, valued at approximately $550. The hotel was occupied by staff and other guests at the time.
Police said the hotel manager called them around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, claiming Arias-Hernandez was back on the property.
After locating Hernandez hours later, Miami-Dade police officers informed him he was not free to leave and that they were investigating the reported burglary.
Authorities said Arias-Hernandez provided police officers with a fake Social Security number and began arguing with them.
Police said they decided to place Arias-Hernandez in handcuffs to prevent him from fleeing or engaging in a fight as they conducted their preliminary investigation.
As two officers attempted to handcuff Arias-Hernandez, authorities said he began resisting arrest, pulling his arms away from the officers to avoid being restrained.
Officers gave loud commands to stop resisting arrest, but police say Arias-Hernandez continued resisting. Eventually, officers were able to detain Arias-Hernandez and place him in handcuffs, the report stated.
After being escorted back to the patrol unit, authorities said Arias-Hernandez kicked two Miami-Dade police officers and used his legs to trip a third officer, causing the officer to briefly lose his balance.
Police said officers used “necessary force” by striking the suspect’s legs to regain control of the situation.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue was called to the scene as a precautionary measure to assess Arias-Hernandez’s condition, but authorities said he was cleared on site.
Detectives said the hotel manager positively identified Arias-Hernandez as the individual who allegedly burglarized the hotel room and provided a sworn statement that was not included in the publicly released arrest report.
Jail records show Arias-Hernandez is facing two counts each of battery on a police officer, corrections officer, or firefighter and resisting arrest with violence. He is also facing one count each of masked burglary of an occupied structure, petit theft and providing a false name while under arrest.
As of Thursday, he was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where his total bond was set at $20,500.
