Brickell break-ins by homeless man raise safety concerns throughout Miami-Dade

MIAMI – A stateless antheral accused of breaking into 2 Brickell apartments and trying to rape a 62-year-old woman is raising questions astir information successful 1 of Miami-Dade County’s fastest-growing neighborhoods.

Police confirmed the apprehension of 46-year-old Jorge Armando Ortega aboriginal Sunday morning.

Miami Police Department Chief Manny Morales called the incidental uncommon and insisted the country remains harmless contempt increasing concerns.

“This is an anomaly. This is not the norm. This is an outlier,” Morales said. “Brickell and the metropolis of Miami arsenic a full remains 1 of the safest cities successful America.”

In fact, 2 large South Florida instrumentality enforcement agencies reported a driblet successful convulsive transgression successful their patrol areas, according to newly-released statistics.

The report from the Major Cities Chiefs Association shows it’s portion of a nationwide inclination successful reduced convulsive transgression successful the archetypal 4th of 2025 compared to the archetypal 4th of 2024.

Related link: New stats amusement convulsive transgression down successful Miami, Miami-Dade

But respective Brickell residents accidental their cognition doesn’t lucifer the department’s statistics.

“I deliberation wrong the past 8 months, it decidedly has gotten a small much sketchier,” said Andrew Kiliment.

“Definitely deliberation it’s gotten a small spot little harmless implicit the past year,” added Kyleigh Custer, who besides said, “There’s Facebook groups wherever girls are being chased connected the thoroughfare by stateless people.”

“We had idiosyncratic interruption into someone’s apartment, question weapon astatine them,” Kiliment said.

“I’m a portion of a clump of Facebook groups, and a batch of radical person concerns implicit the emergence successful crime,” Custer added.

Others accidental the interest whitethorn beryllium overstated.

“I’m from Argentina truthful I’m utilized to … I don’t know. I’m utilized to dealing with homeless. It’s fine,” said Guido Mamone.

“I consciousness ace safe,” said Tristan Dlavik. “I lived successful Chicago earlier this, truthful Chicago — you don’t spell outside.”

Still, Custer said, “Just the feeling has changed and I’ve noticed successful these groups I’m in, tensions person been rising.”

Police accidental successful caller incidents, doors were near unlocked and suspicious behaviour wasn’t reported.

Morales urged residents to enactment alert.

“Rest assured we’re retired there, we’re contiguous and we’re holding them accountable for the crimes that they’re committing,” helium said.

Police accidental they are organizing a Brickell municipality hallway to code what they picture arsenic increasing misconceptions and fear-mongering astir information successful the neighborhood.

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