PINECREST, FLA. (WSVN) - Authorities have identified the suspect in an assault on a woman walking in Pinecrest earlier this week and are actively searching for him, police said Friday.
According to the Pinecrest Police Department, detectives determined that 25-year-old Michael Angelo Figueroa-Hernandez is the man responsible for the March 3 attack along the 13000 block of Southwest 69th Court.
“The break came last night through a viewer, as well as some good detective work from our investigators,” said Village of Pinecrest Police Chief Jason Cohen.
The assault occurred at around 7:30 a.m. Monday when, investigators said, a man on a light blue bicycle, carrying a purple shoulder bag, approached a woman from behind, bear-hugged her, and touched her inappropriately.
“As he got to about 20 feet from her, he dropped his bike to the ground and proceeded to go behind her on foot. Grabbed her in what was described as a bear hug, not letting her go and while he was grabbing her, he was inappropriately touching her,” said Cohen.
The victim cried out and fought him off, prompting the suspect to flee on his bike, which he abandoned about 10 minutes later near Southwest 138th Street and 77th Avenue.
“She put up a fight. She screamed, she caused a scene. He got scared. He opened his grasp, he ran back to his bike, and he took off,” said Cohen.
Officials said surveillance video, which captured the whole crime, was key in identifying Figueroa-Hernandez.
“Surveillance video in this case was key. Between the video that was found multiple, multiple residences, between when we were able to track his footsteps from the incident of the crime to where he dumped the bike down in Palmetto Bay, we were able to get some really good footage of him,” said Cohen.
Detectives said they ran his photo in the criminal system and were able to identify him. They said he is currently on probation for burglary.
Now, they hope with his picture out there, someone will call police.
“We believe he’s homeless. So right now we don’t know where he is. We’re asking the public to take a look at his picture that you guys are gonna show, and if you’ve seen him, if you know where he is, if you know him, please contact us,” said Cohen.
Police urge anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact the Pinecrest Police Detective Bureau at 305-234-2100 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
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