MIAMI SPRINGS, FLA. (WSVN) - Authorities have made multiple arrests after a bust at a Miami Springs hotel.
Miami Springs Police said the arrests were made after a multi-agency effort involving the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Human Trafficking Task Force, Miami-Dade Police, City of Miami Police and others.
The Miami Springs Police Department was part of a multiagency task force that made multiple arrests at a local Miami Springs hotel last night. Click on the link to read more: https://t.co/hBjZqW6EAs
— Miami Springs Police (@MiamiSpringsPD) September 15, 2020
Police said they issued search warrants on Monday at the Runway Inn Miami Airport Hotel, just off Northwest 36th Street at 656 East Drive.
“These search warrants were based on a collection of investigative information and undercover operations,” police wrote.
Detectives said several individuals were identified, and three were arrested. Three other people are pending apprehension.
Investigators also seized numerous items that were later impounded as evidence.
The arrests were made in an area of the city that has seen several problems.
In mid-August, two people were hurt in a drive-by shooting along East Drive, and around the same time, the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office announced the arrest of a 17-year-old boy who was accused of sex trafficking a 14-year-old runaway girl at the hotel.
Businesses at the center of the community complaints said they are suffering, too.
Photos showed several rooms that were trashed by unruly guests at the Miami Springs Inn, located across the street from the Runway Inn.
“Somebody went ‘Bang, bang, bang’ and smashed three windows,” Anil Mistry, the Miami Springs Inn’s general manager, said. “The general pattern is person A will rent the room, a slew of other people will be moving through that room doing everything they shouldn’t be, and how do I control that?”
It’s a similar story at the Runway Inn, and both inns had to lower their rates to keep their doors open. Since then, more issues have occurred, and they said they are working closely with law enforcement.
“The guests, since the coronavirus, we are not getting the best type of people,” Elizabeth Fernandez, the Runway Inn’s general manager, said. “We call them when there is something suspicious, and they are doing their job. They are doing an amazing job, and we are just trying to work together with them.”
A group called East Miami Springs Residents created a Facebook page to share their concerns, including what they’ve seen lately on 36th Street.
“Every night, something else is going on on 36th Street,” a man said. “Every night, another incident, horrible.”
Abe Metz has lived in Miami Springs for seven years and said he has hit his boiling point when it comes to crime in the neighborhood.
“Over the last year, year and a half, it’s progressively going on the downside,” he said. “I definitely don’t want to see a crime increase in this area.”
He added that the hotels need to do more to control crime.
“There’s certain questions that they should be asking that’s not too intrusive on people’s personal lives, especially with COVID,” Metz said.
Police said the criminal charges include narcotics possession with intent to distribute and narcotics trafficking, among other charges.
A multi-agency news conference will be held on Wednesday regarding the arrests.
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