Police looking for South Beach hotel rapist

Man followed tourist to Hotel Breakwater, sexually assaulted her in elevator

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A man followed a tourist to her hotel on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach and sexually assaulted her after they got off the elevator, police said Tuesday.

The sexual assault happened on Sept. 6 at the Hotel Breakwater, 940 Ocean Drive, police said. About 4:30 a.m., the man followed the woman into the elevator and told her that he was getting off on the same floor.

When they walked out, the man -- who police said appeared to be in his 20s, was about 5 feet 10 inches tall and 230 pounds -- overpowered her.

"Put her into some type of hold, walked into her hotel room, where he sexually assaulted her," said Miami Beach Police Sgt. Bobby Hernandez.

Hernandez said he then stole money from the woman and ran away. The man had a tattoo with cursive letters on the upper right part of his chest.

The police department has spoken to hotel officials about increasing security.

"We're also meeting with the hotel, and also adjacent hotels and restaurants, to see if he might have been a former employee because he appears very comfortable the way he's walking around in that hotel," said Hernandez.

Miami Beach police are asking anyone with information to call 305-673-7901 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-6160.