MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - Police have arrested a suspect in the beating of two tourists in Miami Beach.
Miami Beach Police arrested 36-year-old Michael Albert, Wednesday.
More from @MiamiBeachPD: “Thanks to a viewer tip, the subject was located this morning in Miami-Dade County by MDPD…detectives will be completing the arrest reports. More information and details to follow.” @wsvn #Exclusive
— Sheldon Fox-7 News (@fox_sheldon) May 5, 2021
Police said they were able to track down Albert thanks to a tip from a viewer who works as a bus driver and saw the original story on 7News.
Angela Dill and Joshua Clarkson were in the area of Ninth Street and Collins Avenue at around 7 p.m. last Friday when they were attacked on the sidewalk.
“We walked into mayhem, pretty much,” Dill said. “Blood was everywhere.”
“I literally got frickin’ cold-flogged,” Clarkson said. “You aren’t prepared for something like that. It happened so quick.”
The two were treated at Mount Sinai Medical Center before they left town.
“We were walking up the street like laughing, having the best day,” Dill said. “Beautiful day, a beautiful week and all of the sudden, a guy came off the bench and started punching Josh. He punched me in the eye. I have a black eye.”
Mitch Novick owns the nearby Sherbrooke Hotel, and his building’s security cameras captured the attack. He said he has closed the hotel due to an increase in crime in the area.
“I wouldn’t recommend going to South Beach,” Clarkson said.
“I’ve been all over the world,” Dill added. “I’ve been to Thailand, Qatar, Belize, Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina, all the cities, and I’ve never– that was the scariest thing I’ve ever dealt with.”
Albert will likely appear in court for the first time on Thursday.
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