MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A 72-year-old Roman Catholic priest is facing two felony charges after deputies said he got into a violent dispute with a senior during a donation drive at his church in southwest Miami-Dade.
Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies took Father Jesus Saldaña into custody on Saturday, but they said the incident happened on Nov. 6.
Authorities said Saldaña was collecting donations at St. Kevin Catholic Parish, located near the Kendale Lakes and Tamiami areas at 12525 SW 42nd St., when a woman who dropped off a donation “wanted to take photos of the donations with a politically-inclined poster.”
“(Saldaña) approached the victim and told her she was not allowed to take photographs and to leave the premises The victim then asked for her donations back and a verbal argument ensued,” an MDSO report states. “Subsequently, the victim began to take photographs of (Saldaña). At that time, (he) lunged at the victim and a scuffle ensued.”
Deputies said bystanders separated the two, but, for “unknown reasons,” Saldaña reached inside the victim’s vehicle.
“The victim pushed him out of the way and got into the driver’s seat of her vehicle, while (Saldaña) continued to batter her while she was sitting in the driver’s seat,” the report states. “(Saldaña) attempted to pull the victim out of her vehicle and during the struggle, he ripped off the vehicle’s rear view mirror. Additionally, (he) pulled the vehicle’s gear selector, causing it to malfunction.”
Authorities said the woman bit the priest on the wrist, causing him to “let go of the victim.”
The report states that Saldaña “walked around to the passenger side of her vehicle” and reached inside and removed the victim’s purse, dumping its contents on the ground while looking for her cellphone.
Authorities said the woman wasn’t visibly hurt but was admitted to an area hospital for cardiac issues after the incident.
Deputies said Saldaña denied the allegations during a police interview on Saturday. They arrested him on charges of burglary of an occupied conveyance, battery on a person 65 or older and misdemeanor criminal mischief.
Court records show a Miami-Dade judge found probable cause to charge him.
He did not appear in county jail records as of Monday morning.
Local 10 News has contacted the Archdiocese of Miami seeking comment.
Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
