4 August 1-7, 2024 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | music | cafe | culture | Night+Day | news | letters | coNteNts | MONTH XX–MONTH XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | ▼ MIAMI BEACH MEINER OFFENSE MAYOR SEEKS CRACKDOWN ON RELEASE OF POLICE INFO TO MEDIA. BY NAOMI FEINSTEIN J ust a week after WSVN-TV (Chan- nel 7) helped track down the man who allegedly sexually assaulted a female rollerblader on the Miami Beach beach walk, Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner wants to crack down on the release of information related to ongo- ing police investigations. In a discussion item on the Wednesday, July 24, commission meeting agenda, Meiner said he would like the city commission “to take appropriate action regarding the unau- thorized recording and/or dissemination of Miami Beach Police Department (MBPD) in- vestigative City employees.” “Moreover, any unauthorized disclosure can easily compromise ongoing investiga- tions, police operations, alert suspects, and can lead to the destruction of evidence,” Meiner wrote. The mayor recommends that the city em- ployees who disseminate “sensitive police in- vestigation information” without authorization should potentially be investi- gated for violating police department stan- dard operating procedures, subpoenaed, prosecuted by the Miami-Dade State Attor- ney’s Office, or referred to the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust or the City’s Inspector General. “It is my understanding that there have been incidents in which sensitive police in- vestigative information has been released to the media/public without prior authorization or approval,” the item reads. Meiner’s discussion item comes after WSVN-TV (Channel 7) obtained surveillance video of a brutal sexual assault on the beach walk between 23rd and 24th streets on July 16. The video showed a woman rollerblading when an unknown male approached her from behind before he grabbed, choked, and threw her to the ground. He can be seen pull- ing her into the bushes, where she allegedly sexually assaulted her. The television station released the footage as part of its coverage to help Miami Beach police locate the suspect. In fact, the outlet’s coverage was integral in the arrest of the wanted rape suspect and convicted sex offender Keith Hill Jr. in Hollywood on July 19, according to the state attorney’s office arrest warrant. He was arrested and charged with sexual battery along with charges of giving a false ID to authorities, failing to register as a sex offender, and failing to comply with sex offender registration law. “Chief Luke Plesa, of the Sunny Isles Po- lice Department, saw the news coverage of the incident and recognized the subject from recent police contact, which took place at a public park in their jurisdiction on Monday, July 15th, 2024,” the warrant states. WSVN-TV (Channel 7) reporter Sheldon Fox maintains that the news stations called the police department to ensure the video’s release would not compromise the investigation. “Before airing this video, we gave a courtesy call to police, explaining we planned to show the footage,” he wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “We weren’t asked to hold off or told it could hurt their investigation.” Fox is now questioning if the city is more focused on protecting its reputation rather than catching an accused rapist. “Is this that are you more worried about perception over violent crime?” Fox tells New Times. “Because that’s certainly how it might come across when you look at how this recommendation was written by Mayor Meiner.” He wonders if the accused would have been caught as quickly if it hadn’t been for the constant media coverage. “This man was caught and you would think that the mayor’s office would be cele- brating, but instead they’re talking about prosecuting and subpoenaing cops for giving out information to the media,” Fox adds. The MBPD did not respond to New Times’ request for comment. | RIPTIDE | GET MORE NEWS & COMMENTARY AT MIAMINEWTIMES.COM/NEWS Bodycam footage showing police arresting Keith Hill Jr. on Hollywood Beach on July 19, 2024. Hill is suspected of sexually assaulting a woman rollerblading on the Miami Beach Beachwalk three days earlier. WSVN-TV (Channel 7) screenshot ▼ MIAMI GHOST MODE = ACTIVATED MIAMI POLICE FLAUNT “GHOST” SUV TO STOP RECKLESS DRIVERS. BY ZULEKHA PITTS T he Miami Police Department just got a little bit stealthier with the introduction of their latest weapon against DUIs, reck- less driving, and more mundane traffic infrac- tions — the department’s first-ever ghosted police Tahoe. The Chevy SUV, designed to blend in with ev- eryday traffic, is somewhere between an un- marked undercover vehicle and a traditional patrol car, with faded out, light gray police labels on the vehicle body. Proudly touting the ghosted ride, Lt. Jack Carpenter, a traffic enforcement commander, gave a look into this new addition to the force. “This is the latest and greatest from the traffic enforcement unit. This is our new ghost vehicle for DUI enforcement. This is about a year in the making,” Carpenter said. “Everything is different than you see on a regular patrol car, from the lights to the pattern to the graphics.” In the days to come, you might see (or com- pletely miss) cops lurking in the new vehicle as they wait to bust drivers for various infractions. What Makes the “Ghosted” Tahoe Unique? The ghosted police Tahoe may look like an ordinary vehicle at first glance, but it’s packed with features designed to give Miami Police a high-tech edge to issue tickets. Integrated lights are hidden within the body of the vehicle, and the ghost graphics, which are hard to see during the day, light up at night when illuminated. “From a distance, you don’t know it’s a police car, but as you get close, it definitely will light up, and you’ll see it’s an official police vehicle now,” Carpenter said. The Tahoe has 20-inch rims, Firestone Pursuit tires, and custom-made lights. The covert design is intended to blend in with regular traf- fic, making it easier for officers to spot violations without drawing attention. The vehicle is specially equipped for DUI enforce- ment, with an Intoxi- lyzer 8000 mounted in the back for on-site processing of impaired drivers. This setup reduces the time needed for processing arrests. Ghosted Tahoe on Patrol Car- penter took the new ghosted Tahoe on patrol and quickly showcased it catching four violations. One incident occurred in the West Flagler area, where a driver was caught briefly driving against traffic in a median. Minor infraction? Carpenter doesn’t see it that way. “If somebody would’ve turned out from on the left side of here into that traffic, they could’ve had an accident,” he noted. Carpenter ultimately showed leniency, giving the driver a break and emphasizing the impor- tance of having proof of insurance. “I know the car is hard to see because it’s ghost. You know, graphics and everything like that,” Carpenter told the driver, who admitted to noticing the Tahoe’s peculiar appearance. “The ultimate goal in traffic enforcement is not to issue tickets. The ultimate goal is to get everybody to drive safe so that everybody gets home safe,” Carpenter claimed. [email protected] IT’S PACKED WITH FEATURES DESIGNED TO GIVE MIAMI POLICE A HIGH- TECH EDGE TO ISSUE TICKETS.
