Former Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez arrested on battery charge

WEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (WSVN) — Former Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery, and his alleged victim is speaking out about what she described as a pattern of domestic violence.

On Wednesday, Alvarez, who was also once the Miami-Dade Police Director before being elected mayor in 2004, responded to the Coral Gables Police Department and surrendered himself to police, Wednesday morning. He was then arrested and transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

Alvarez’s accuser is his ex-girlfriend, Miami-Dade Police Lt. Evelyn Fernandez. She showed 7News photographs of her bruised elbow, injuries that, she said, she sustained on Saturday during an argument with Alvarez.

Alvarez and Fernandez had been together 14 years. The alleged victim, who is currently on medical leave from the force because she is battling cancer, told 7News she was photographed by Coral Gables Police after she was battered.

According to the arrest form, Alvarez and Fernandez had developed a pattern of domestic violence since 2013. According to the sworn statement from her 16-year-old daughter, on April 23, Fernandez arrived to an apartment complex at 55 Merrick Way to return Alvarez’s cat. Upon arrival, she and Alvarez began to argue. Quickly, the argument escalated and Alvarez grabbed her by both arms and pinned her against the wall in the building’s parking garage. 

Then, according to the report, he spat at her while he yelled profanities. Police confirmed her physical injuries were consistent with a sworn statement from the victim’s daughter.

Alvarez was booted from office in the largest-ever recall of a local politician, in 2011. He later received some publicity for becoming a competitive bodybuilder after he lost the position.

Speaking with 7News on the phone, Fernandez stated she’d been a repeat domestic abuse victim for years, and that the verbal and physical abuse escalated in 2013, soon after Alvarez began a bodybuilding career.

Fernandez declined to comment on the allegations on the air because she wasn’t feeling up to it. However, she indicated she wanted to be an example to her daughter that domestic violence should never be tolerated.

Fernandez also shared a text that, she said, Alvarez sent her on Saturday. It reads, "I hope that you get the worst possible cancer and die a slow, miserable death, you evil [expletive]."

She texted back, "Thank you. I wish you the very best life has to offer you. May you live a long and happy life."

According to a 7News source, police investigated the case along with the State Attorney’s Office.  

The former mayor was booked at 12:52 p.m. and received a bond of $1,500. He is expected to appear in bond court at 11 a.m., Thursday.