MIAMI (WSVN) - City of Miami Police said only one man was arrested Tuesday for jumping in front of former President Trump’s motorcade as he was leaving the courthouse in Miami.
Police said 61-year-old Domenic Santana went too far and was the only person to be arrested during Trump’s visit.
According to Santana, he simply wanted to get his message across, and he believes he did.
The number of Donald Trump supporters greatly outnumbered the critics Tuesday afternoon during the peaceful demonstrations.
“One individual, who was clearly not in his right mind, jumps out in front of the motorcade to make some point for himself, and he was taken down immediately without anyone else getting hurt,” said Miami Police Chief Manny Morales.
Santana spent the night behind bars and now faces three charges, including disorderly conduct, obstruction of traffic and resisting an officer without violence.
He spoke to 7News as he bonded out of jail, Wednesday morning.
“I was running away from the mob that was hitting me, and I just dodged for my safety, and all of a sudden there is a motorcade,” said Santana.
He was cuffed within seconds by Miami Police officers.
“He was taken down immediately without anyone else getting hurt. That was a successful event,” said Morales.
Morales said that Miami’s Police’s plan worked.
“When we tell you we are ready to handle the incident, and we are ready to keep the city of Miami safe without a word,” said Chief Morales.
About 600 local, state and federal officers were standing by, but not all were needed. Officers in cars, bikes and on foot supervised the crowd and worked to keep arguments from escalating.
“The absolute restraint that they showed, the professionalism and the compassion that they showed out there, was truly worthy of recognition,” said Morales.
Meanwhile, Santana said his message regarding the incident he faced was different from Trump supporters.
“I’m getting the message out. He should have been locked up a long time ago, lock him up,” said Santana.
Some Trump supporters did get close to the former president at Versailles restaurant in Little Havana as he made a quick stop on the way to the airport.
There was a moment of prayer, and Trump spoke to the crowd.
A group of supporters even sang “Happy Birthday” to Trump, who celebrated his 77 birthday despite another serious legal battle ahead of him.
Morales said he is really proud of his department and how everything was handled.
Santana said he understands why he was arrested and even commended authorities for the way everything was handled during Trump’s visit.
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