MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - Police have arrested a Miami Beach parking enforcement officer after, they said, he extorted a valet company for cash.
Fifty-seven-year-old Dante Zirio was taken into custody on Saturday for allegedly demanding money from valets in exchange for not issuing parking tickets.
But Zirio’s parking plot did not end there.
Arrest records obtained by 7News state that if the suspect didn’t get the money, he would purposefully issue citations.
The arrest report states that Zirio “demanded $750 in exchange for not issuing parking citations” and “demanded $1,000 a month … or he would issue parking citations to [the victim’s] valet company.”
City officials said the parking director received a tip regarding Zirio and reached out to police department, leading to an internal affairs investigation.
According to sources, Zirio was caught after valet workers recorded the bribe.
He is said to have worked for the City of Miami Beach for 20 years.
Zirio is facing several felony charges, including two counts of extortion and two counts of bribery. He has since bonded out of jail.
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