MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — A man on probation in Broward County has been arrested in connection with a reported sexual battery that occurred over the weekend on South Beach, according to an arrest report from the Miami Beach Police Department.
According to the report, the alleged rape occurred at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday in the 1100 block of the beach.
Police identified the suspect as 35-year-old Shawn Markiece Peete, who detectives say was taken into custody Sunday after officers recognized him from a department-issued “Need to Identify” flyer that was circulated following the investigation.
According to investigators, officers were initially dispatched around 9:30 a.m. Saturday to the Shepley hotel at 1340 Collins Ave. after a woman reported she had been raped earlier that morning on the beach.
The victim told police she had gone to the beach alone late Friday night after checking into the hotel. She said she met a man who introduced himself as “Shawn” and used the street name “Nike,” which she said stood for, “N****, I kill everything.”
The two talked on the sand before the man allegedly became aggressive after repeatedly pressuring her to drink tequila, the report states.
The woman told detectives she attempted to leave the area because she feared for her safety, but the man followed her onto a beach access pathway.
According to the arrest report, Peete, who is homeless, grabbed the victim from behind, forced her to the ground, removed her pants and bathing suit bottom, and raped her for about five minutes while she screamed for him to stop.
Investigators said the victim managed to grab onto a rope lining the beach pathway and eventually broke free before fleeing toward Ocean Drive, where she flagged down a passerby on a scooter for help.
She later returned to her hotel room, showered, and contacted police, the report stated.
Detectives said the victim provided a description of the suspect and during her interview, complained abut pain in the back of her neck. She also had a visible bruise on her wrist.
According to the report, detectives reviewed surveillance video which captured the victim, suspect and Good Samaritan engaged in a conversation/confrontation near 11th Street before the victim left on the scooter with the passerby.
The following morning, officers responded to a report of a man sleeping on the terrace of the Avalon Hotel at 700 Ocean Drive and identified the man as Peete, who they said matched the description of the suspect in the sexual battery case.
Peete was then transported to Miami Beach Police headquarters for questioning.
According to detectives, Peete waived his Miranda rights and admitted to having sexual intercourse with the woman but claimed she “seemed to be enjoying it.” Authorities said he told investigators the two had been drinking tequila together and “hooked up” on the beach.
Peete said the woman did tell him to stop at one point and he did, the report stated.
Detectives said Peete identified both himself and the victim in surveillance images shown during the interview and voluntarily provided a DNA sample.
Peete was ultimately arrested and transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Records reviewed by investigators show Peete is currently on probation out of Fort Lauderdale in connection with a misdemeanor controlled substance case filed in 2025.
As of Monday morning, Peete remained held at TGK. Online jail records listed his bond as “to be set.”
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