MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Gardens police identified 30-year-old Steven Devon Mason Rivers as the suspect in a sexual battery reported over the weekend on the Florida Memorial University campus.
Miami Gardens Police Executive Officer to the Chief Emmanuel Jeanty and lead investigator Stephanie Saint-Fleur of the agency’s special victims unit provided the update during a Wednesday morning press conference.
Police said the female victim, a FMU student who was here on a visa from Colombia, was waiting at a bus stop when Rivers whispered at her and followed her back onto campus.
They said Rivers entered the campus by jumping a fence and asked the victim to use her cellphone. When she refused, he pinned her against a door and sexually battered her.
Police on Wednesday also shared surveillance video of Rivers jumping a campus fence prior to the attack.
Miami Gardens police later received a tip from the Opa-locka Police Department, after officers spotted a man wearing similar clothing two days after the incident — described as a Black male wearing a black hoodie and black pants.
Jeanty said investigators executed a DNA warrant, and at 7 a.m. Wednesday, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office crime laboratory confirmed a positive DNA match to Rivers in less than 24 hours.
Local 10 News was there as Rivers was taken into custody on Tuesday.
Authorities said as Rivers was being detained, he attempted to grab a female detective’s buttocks. The bizarre move forced officers to brace him against a nearby railing when Rivers said “good catch but I don’t give a f---” before he was placed in a patrol car.
Jeanty credited the lab for working overnight to expedite the results. Rivers’ arrest report lists him as homeless.
Police also confirmed that Rivers was released from the Florida Department of Corrections in December 2025 following a charge of lewd and lascivious conduct in an unrelated case.
According to court records obtained by Local 10 News, Rivers has multiple prior cases listed under lewd or lascivious exhibition, with offense dates of February 18, 2024; April 19, 2024; July 23, 2024; and March 27, 2025, all out of Palm Beach County.
Additionally, prior prison records list convictions in Miami-Dade County, including:
- Sudden snatching without a weapon (offense date May 6, 2019)
- Aggravated stalking with a credible threat (offense date August 1, 2019)
- Carrying a concealed firearm (offense date June 26, 2020)
Jeanty said the department has extended patrols and increased security measures in the area. Local 10 News was on site as school staff installed additional security cameras and lighting around the campus.
Saint-Fleur said investigators are “very pleased with the outcome of this case.” She added that the victim, who remains an active student and lives on campus, told police she is “very happy” and plans to continue taking classes at FMU.
Students on campus said they were relieved an arrest was made, while also keeping the victim in their thoughts.
“I do feel bad for her,” a student said. “I said prayers for her all week.”
In this case, jail records show Rivers is facing one count each of sexual battery and robbery by sudden snatching.
Rivers appeared in Miami-Dade bond court via Zoom Thursday morning, where Judge Mindy Glazer set his total bond at $510,501 after calling him “a great danger to the community.”
She also ordered him to stay away from the victim and FMU.
Investigators believe there may be additional victims and urge anyone with information to contact the Miami Gardens Police Department at 305-474-6473.
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