MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A 31-year-old man is facing multiple felony charges after police say he forced his way into a Miami Beach condominium at gunpoint, pistol-whipped a resident and robbed three people before fleeing the scene.
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According to the Miami Beach Police Department, officers were dispatched around 8:45 p.m. Thursday to a reported armed home invasion at an apartment near the 1500 block of Bay Road.
When MBPD officers arrived, they met with three victims who said the suspect, identified as Brian Lopez, of Hialeah, confronted one of them in the hallway and forced her at gunpoint back into the residence.
Inside the apartment, police say Lopez pulled out a gun and ordered all three victims to the ground.
After one of the victim’s refused to go to the ground, police say Lopez then pistol-whipped him in the head, causing a minor injury, before he complied to avoid further violence.
An arrest report states that Lopez allegedly demanded money and valuables from the victims.
According to detectives, the victim was forced to transfer $1,500 via Zelle, while another victim’s attempt to transfer $500 failed. Police said Lopez also stole a cellphone from a third victim.
They said Lopez then ordered the victims to bring him to their vehicle.
Under duress, investigators said the group exited the unit and took the elevator to the lobby. Once there, the victim yelled for help, prompting Lopez to flee on foot.
Officials said they sent out a be-on-the-lookout alert and just 20 minutes later, a Miami Beach detective spotted and detained Lopez in the 1600 block of Bay Road.
They said all three victims were brought to the location and positively identified Lopez as the suspect.
During a search incident to arrest, officers say they recovered the stolen cellphone in Lopez’s pocket.
Lopez was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and is facing one count of robbery/home invasion with a firearm, three counts of armed robbery with a deadly weapon or firearm, and one count of burglary with assault or battery.
Detectives said a background check revealed that Lopez is currently on conditional release supervision with the Florida Department of Corrections until Nov. 1 and was released from state prison on January 29.
They said his criminal history includes charges for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, battery on a law enforcement officer and narcotics sales.
He is also classified as a “Signal 200 offender,” indicating a documented history of violent criminal activity.
As of Wednesday, Lopez was being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
