MIAMI — A judge on Thursday denied bond for a 67-year-old man accused of driving drunk when he slammed his Cadillac into a home just outside of Coral Gables in June, killing an 82-year-old man who authorities say was sleeping inside.
Allen Matis’ attorney appeared before Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer for a second bond hearing and asked that Matis be released on house arrest while he awaits trial. Glazer instead ordered that Matis remain jailed.
According to an arrest report from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, the crash happened around 7:30 p.m. June 24 in the 2900 block of Southwest 57th Avenue, in the unincorporated Coral Terrace area.
Investigators say Matis, of Coral Gables, was driving a Cadillac Lyriq on Palermo Avenue when he ran a stop sign and slammed into the home.
The impact sent the SUV through the wall, striking Henri Bezy, who was sleeping in his bed. Bezy became trapped underneath the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the report.
A deputy who responded to the crash reported seeing Matis behind the wheel and observing signs of impairment, authorities said.
According to his arrest report, toxicology results from blood samples taken several hours after the crash showed Matis had a blood alcohol concentration ranging from 0.245% to 0.29%, more than three times the legal limit.
Investigators said they also obtained vehicle data showing Matis accelerated to 43 mph and did not apply the brakes during the seconds leading up to the crash.
Prosecutors argued Thursday that Matis should remain in custody.
“The fact that the defendant volunteered that he had been at the Ritz Carlton prior to this crash is that he got so drunk at that location that he must have driven right past his own home,” a prosecutor said during the hearing.
Matis’ defense attorney declined to comment when approached by Local 10’s Gabrielle Arzola after Thursday’s hearing.
A judge is expected to review the case again at 9 a.m. Friday to determine whether Matis will remain jailed or be released on house arrest while the case proceeds.
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