MIAMI — Authorities have arrested the suspect who was caught on camera vandalizing a menorah outside of the Miami-Dade Tax Collector’s Office in downtown Miami.
The person is seen walking up to the sacred symbol, throwing it to the ground and ripping the bulbs from their sockets, then destroying the fencing around it before taking off.
Officers have since identified Nicholas Eichorst, 46, as the suspect.
The incident occurred just days after the tax collector’s office launched an annual menorah-lighting tradition for Hanukkah this year.
“This despicable act of vandalism against our menorah is an attack on the values of faith, perseverance, and unity that Hanukkah represents and that we celebrated together just days ago,” Miami-Dade Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez said. “We unequivocally stand with the Jewish community in Miami-Dade County and across the nation. Hate has no home here. Light will always prevail over darkness, and we will not be intimidated.
“The only way to fight darkness is with light, and I will do that every single day of my life.”
It didn’t take long for Miami officers to catch up to Eichorst, as he was taken into custody not too far away from the tax collector’s office.
According to an arrest form, he told officers, “He threw the ornament to the ground because he had eaten something two nights prior and didn’t know what was going on with him.”
This wasn’t the first time Eichorst was arrested for vandalizing the same property. Just last month, he was charged with criminal mischief after police said he threw at rock at a window, breaking it.
Fernandez said he planned to re-light the menorah immediately, and it has since been repaired and placed back in its original working location.
“This guy he destroyed the menorah, but another good Samaritan come back and lifted the menorah up,” said Fernandez. “That is a part of our community. When something happens in our community, we can unite one community.”
Officials are hoping to identify that good Samaritan so they can properly thank him.
Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
