MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - Miami Beach will see increased police patrols this weekend with the help of Miami-Dade Police, who will be assisting Miami Beach Police officers.
Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber asked for the increased police presence in the city’s entertainment district following a string of violent crimes.
“Don’t come here to do things you wouldn’t do in your hometown,” Gelber said Monday. “Don’t come here if you’re not intending to play by the rules. I also reached out to the county mayor, Mayor Levine Cava. I asked her for some help from Metro Dade, which, obviously, also has jurisdiction here.”
A shooting in front of The Licking restaurant in the area of Eighth Street and Washington Avenue sent three people to the hospital. Police said the alleged shooter, 24-year-old Keshawn McLean, has a pending attempted murder case out of New York and remains on the run.
“We’ve just kicked it into high gear Friday night on Miami Beach,” Miami Beach Police spokesperson Ernesto Rodriguez said. “In the interest of safety, to increase visibility out on the street.”
Along with extra officers from their department, Miami Beach officers were joined by Miami-Dade Police officers, federal officers and some from the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.
A few seconds after officers began to walk the streets, they appeared to pick up a container in the area of Washington Avenue and 11th Street, near the police station. Police said the apprehension was drug-related.
Earlier Friday, a woman was stabbed with a pair of scissors in the area of 13th Street and Collins Avenue. The victim, who is a tourist from Pennsylvania, was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital in stable condition.
7Skyforce HD captured the stabbing suspect in handcuffs and in the custody of officers.
Several high profile crimes have the city on edge and had 7News asking questions during Gelber’s Monday news conference.
“I have two daughters, 20 and 22,” Gelber said.
When asked if he would let his daughters go to South Beach, Gelber replied, “I don’t send my kids to Ocean Drive.”
Dozens of more officers were promised, including some who will trade in their plainclothes detective gear for a uniform. Other officers will be wearing tactical-type gear, according to police and city leaders.
The officers are expected to work more hours to combat the recent crimes.
“They’re going to be arrested if they misbehave,” Gelber said.
Police said they have made several arrests in the entertainment district, Friday night.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.