FLORIDA CITY, Fla. — A 44-year-old man was arrested after authorities say he and another individual tried to lure a girl into an SUV outside a Florida City motel on Halloween.
Jail records show Jovani Edwin Rivera, who is listed as homeless in his arrest report, is facing one count of kidnapping/solicitation.
It happened around 1:20 p.m. at the Super 8 Motel parking lot, located at 1202 N. Krome Ave.
The victim’s mother told Florida City police that she saw a white Chevrolet Tahoe, bearing Florida tag 93EVZR, which was parked outside the motel.
She said Rivera and an unknown man were standing by the SUV’s passenger door, trying to lure her daughter inside, according to the report.
The mother then confronted Rivera and told him she would call police.
The SUV then fled the scene, but Rivera remained, reportedly pleading with the mother not to call 911.
Police arrived at the scene and spoke with Rivera at the scene.
When asked for the driver’s name, he said, “I just know that he goes by the name of Black,” the report stated.
Rivera was taken into custody and, as of Monday morning, was being held at the MetroWest Detention Center with bond listed as “to be set.”
Anyone with information on the driver or SUV is urged to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
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