LTC 091-2010 Stabbing on March 27, 2010 South of 5th Streetm ~../1 I AM l ~~~~ H
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO.LTC# o9i-zolo LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager ~
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DATE: March 29, 2010 _
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SUBJECT: Stabbing on March 27, 2010 South o 5th ;~ ~ ,
The purpose of this LTC is to provide the Commission with information regarding thesta~iing that
occurred last Saturday night, especially as media reports provided incorrect informatiorc.rl~lat_has
caused concern among residents in that area. First and foremost, it is important to elarif~thaYtYiis
incident DID NOT occur in South Pointe Park as incorrectly reported by several media~outldts; nor did
this occur in Nikki Beach/Pier Park, on the beach or beachwalk.
As per the police incident report, the two victims, along with several friends, had finished dinner at the
TGIF on the corner of 5~h and Ocean when they headed south on Ocean Drive and were followed by
the male subject. An initial argument occurred at approximately 3rd and Ocean Drive between the
subject and the two victims and, as the group approached South Pointe Drive (also known as
Biscayne Street), the subject again engaged the two victims in a discussion that resulted in the
subject punching one victim, who struck the subject back several times. The second victim also struck
the subject in an attempt to protect her friend, at which time the subject (identified as 24 year-old
Kidane Mengesha) produced a knife and stabbed both victims. One victim suffered a deep laceration
to her left thigh and was transported to Mt. Sinai Hospital; the other victim suffered a laceration to her
face, arm and two puncture wounds to her chest and below her left arm. She was transported
to Ryder Trauma and underwent surgery; her condition is unknown.
The subject fled the scene southbound but was quickly apprehended by police on the south side of
the Portofino Condominium. The knife used was also recovered near the scene. There are a total of
six witnesses and all six positively identified the subject as the person who stabbed both victims. The
subject provided detectives with a recorded sworn statement and has been charged with one count of
attempted 2"d degree murder and one count of aggravated battery.
As you are aware, this past weekend was the concluding weekend for Winter Music Conference. The
City is also currently busy with the annual spring break visitors. The victims are not City residents; the
subject's last known address is in North Miami.
As we do for these high impact periods, the City implemented a Major Events Plan that provided for
enhanced police, fire, code, parking and sanitation staffing. We will be debriefing on this MEP, as we
typically do. While this incident is unfortunate and certainly a concern, it appears to be related
specifically to a disagreement between the subject and this group, and is not related to any of the
issues regarding vacant buildings, vagrants, etc. that have been the subject of other recent emails
and committee discussions. It is also important to again emphasize that this unfortunate incident did
not occur in South Pointe Park, Pier Park, the beach or the beachwalk area.
Please feel free to call me should you have any questions or require additional information.
Cc: Chief Ray Martinez
F:\cmgr\$ALL\HFernandez\Other Departments\Police\Stabbing 3 27 10 LTC.doc
PATROL DIVISION
INCIDENT: Stabbing
DATE: March 27, 2010
TIME: 21:00 Hrs.
CASE NUMBER: 201 0- 3 1 1 80
LOCATION: 100 Blk of South Pointe Drive
COMMANDER: Lt. Robinson
SUPERVISOR: Sergeants Corps, Prevish, and Amaya were on scene
LEAD OFFICER: Ofc. R. Azicri
LEAD DETECTIVE: Multiple detectives from the Robbery Unit were on scene. Det. Erben was called
in as the lead investigator.
WHO WAS NOTIFIED: Command Staff and PIO were notified via this form. S.D.O. Captain
Gullage was notified by phone as was D.C. Riley.
DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT:
A group of females departed the TGI Fridays restaurant at 5 Street at Ocean Drive. As they walked
down the beach they were followed by the subject. At one point these females verbally confronted
the subject as to why he was following them. The argument turned violent when the subject stabbed
two of these females. One victim was stabbed in the abdomen and the other in the leg. A B.O.L.O.
was issued and Ofc. Lester apprehended the subject nearby. The knife was recovered and the scene
was secured. CSI responded to process the scene. One victim was transported to Ryder Trauma
Center and the other to Mount Sinai Hospital. Both victims are expected to survive. As this incident
notification is being authored the subject is being interviewed.
SUBJECT: Kidane Mengesha B/M 05-06-1985
MEDIA INQUIRIES: None
FORM XXX REVISED Ol /24/2008