MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - A vulgar street standoff in Miami Beach between volunteer first responders and a parking attendant led to police getting involved.
The Jan. 31 encounter happened between rescue officials from Hatzalah, a nonprofit, faith-based private medical services company and a city parking employee. ear Pine Tree Drive and 39th Street.
“Record my ass! [expletive] you, and you stand back, piece of [expletive],” said a Hatzalah volunteer in a white hoodie. “Why don’t you call the [expletive] cops over here. You’re being threatened over here.”
Video of City of Miami Beach Parking body camera footage showed fuming first responders with harsh words for a Miami Beach parking enforcement officer.
“What does the sign say? ‘Emergency response!’ We were filling an ambulance with equipment,” said the other Hatzolah volunteer, who had a beard.
The medics insisted they are at the location all the time and have a deal with the city to be there.
The argument was captured on video and escalated quickly.
“You’re not allowed to do this, sure. You have to be on private property,” said the city parking employee. “Going to have to ask you to move them or I’m gonna have to cite you and tow you.”
“OK, why don’t you cite me?” said the Hatzalah volunteer in white.
Despite being told they were illegally parked on Pine Tree Drive, they refused to move.
“It’s an ambulance organization. Shame on you. Get a real job,” said the bearded Hatzalah volunteer.
Police were then called.
“I got two white males being aggressive,” said the city parking employee into a walkie talkie.
“Aggressive!” said one of Hatzolah volunteers while the other laughed.
Police arrived and had to step between the medics and the parking employee.
“They’re loading up this in the middle of the street,” said a city parking employee talking to an officer who responded. “They’re not allowed to do this here, and I’m trying to warn them. The gentleman was very aggressive. He was coming on me. He wasn’t giving me the space.”
“His badge number is [expletive] piece of [expletive]!” said the Hatzalah volunteer in white while on the phone and pointing to the camera.
“Cursing. Everything is being recorded,” said the city parking employee.
The Hatzolah volunteers were cited.
The director of Hatzalah told 7News last week, “This got blown out of proportion, and it was just a bad interaction.”
The ambulance company has been in South Florida for years and is often praised for its volunteer paramedic and rescue work.
In a statement provided to 7News: “The City of Miami Beach said it has an outstanding relationship with Hatzalah. Parking tickets were issued for each illegally parked commercial vehicle, but the city has since rescinded the citations in good faith and is working closely with the organization to find a future parking solution for their valuable service in our community.”
Despite the hot-tempered night on Pine Tree Drive, a police officer stepped in between Hatzalah and the city parking employee.
“I got it. He gave the ticket. Now get the [expletive] out,” the Hatzalah volunteer in the white hoodie said to the officer.
7News reached out to Hatzalah again, and representatives said that the incident occurred in a matter of first responders loading up their ambulance and that they are very passionate about the work that they do in South Florida. The representatives also said that they are working to educate the Miami Beach parking authorities on their practices.
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