HomeMy Public PortalAboutLTC 061-2017 Bal Harbour Police Department - Criminal Mischief InvestigationBAL HARBOUR
- VILLAGE -
OFFICE OF THE VILLAGE MANAGER
LETTER TO COUNCIL
NO. 061-2017
To: Mayor Gabriel Groisman and Members of the Village Council
From: Jorge M. Gonzalez, Village Manager
Date: April 6, 2017
Subject: Bal Harbour Police Department - Criminal Mischief Investigation
The purpose of this Letter to Council istotransmitto you the results of the Criminal Mischief
investigation conducted by the Bal Harbour Police Department into the damaged
landscape lighting along Collins Avenue.
On March 27, 2017, the Department was notified by a resident of several landscape lights
that had been damaged along Collins Avenue. The lights appeared to have been kicked
and damaged beyond repair. In response, members of the Bal Harbour police operations
divisions increased police presence and surveillance operations on the Collins Avenue
corridor. In an effort to identify persons of interest and/or determine an approximate time
the offenses were occurring, officers reviewed previous reports, multiple surveillance
footage, and conducted informal interviews with numerous Bal Harbour residents who
frequently walk along Collins Avenue.
On Saturday, April 1, 2017, resident Brian Mulheren notified the on -duty police lieutenant
he had observed an individual standing near a broken landscape light. Mr. Mulheren
provided a description of the individual as well as the time of day he had observed him.
The officers focused their surveillance operations during the specific time frames based on
the information he provided.
On April 2, 2017 at approximately 5:04 P.M., Officer Braxton Mcclams strategically
concealed his marked police vehicle near Harbour Way West making it difficult for
pedestrians and vehicle traffic to detect his presence. Officer Mcclams exited his vehicle
and walked to the bus bay at Harbour Way and Collins Avenue. While concealed behind
the shrubbery, the officer noticed a suspicious male matching the description of the
individual previously described. He observed the male stop and kick a landscaping light
on the north side of the Date Palm located in front of the Kenilworth Condominiums;
however, the light did not detach from the base as it was a newly installed and reinforced
fixture. The officer then observed the individual walk to the other side of the palm and kick
the light fixture, causing it to dislodge from its base. On duty officers were advised and
coordinated the apprehension of the individual.
LTC 061-2017: Bal Harbour Police Department - Criminal Mischief Investigation
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The suspect was then interviewed by the Criminal Investigation Unit and charged
accordingly. Mr. Mulheren confirmed that the suspect taken into custody was in fact the
individual he had observed. The Village will be seeking restitution for the damaged lights
as part of the suspect's prosecution.
If you have any questions or need any additional information, please feel free to contact
me.
JMG/MdIR