Latest news with #MiamiFireRescue
CBS News
5 days ago
- CBS News
Man arrested for indecent exposure ID'd as Miami firefighter-paramedic, sources say
A man arrested for allegedly following a woman during her morning walk and exposing himself is a firefighter-paramedic with Miami Fire-Rescue, according to two law enforcement sources who spoke with CBS News Miami. CBS News Miami first reported Tuesday that 34-year-old Demetrious Reshad Sams was arrested for indecent exposure after an incident that occurred around 8:45 a.m. on Saturday, June 7, near S.W. 86th Street and 58th Avenue in South Miami. Police say Sams followed the woman in his black 2021 Dodge Charger, exposed himself and touched himself in her presence. A witness provided police with the car's license plate number and the woman later identified Sams in a photo lineup. He was arrested early Tuesday morning at his apartment in Homestead, roughly 20 miles from where the incident occurred. Victim speaks out CBS News Miami spoke again Wednesday with the victim, who expressed disappointment and concern over the suspect's role as a first responder. "It's disappointing. He should be a trusted respected member of our community like all other firefighters are," she said. "It is just completely out of line. I would like other women to come forward just so no one else will have that type of experience." She added, "I have not gone walking since. I just want for everyone to be careful. Try to walk with a buddy and try to have someone you can call in case of an emergency." The woman said she enjoyed her walks and now feels robbed of a sense of safety. "I feel awful. I very much enjoyed walking through my neighborhood. It is a nice and safe community and I feel that has been taken away. It is very scary for many women who walk and bike ride and it's just not good," she said. She encouraged others to report any similar experiences. "If they can contact the police station and let them know if they experienced similar situations," she urged. Multiple cases investigated South Miami Police Sgt. Fernando Bosch told CBS News Miami that Coral Gables police, who assisted in the investigation, are looking into four to five similar cases in their city. Both departments are urging victims and anyone with information to come forward. "Not only do we have concerns but we know, we believe that he has done this in other municipalities close by," Bosch said. "Those municipalities are working cases and there are probably 4 to 5 cases with the same MO." "We believe this has been going on for a while, for a pretty long while and again we believe he has done it to other victims not known to police and we would like to hear from those victims," Bosch added. "These things tend to escalate." The woman also recalled her fear during the encounter. "I was terrified that he might put me in the car. I was very, very scared," she said. Fire-rescue responds Miami Fire-Rescue spokesperson Pete Sanchez confirmed the department is aware that a four-year veteran had been arrested and said contact would be made to begin an internal investigation. "Once contact is established, the department will initiate a thorough internal investigation in accordance with our policies and procedures," Sanchez said. Although Sams was not named in the statement, the department emphasized accountability. "The Department holds all personnel to the highest standards and does not tolerate conduct, on or off duty, that is inconsistent with the values of a City of Miami firefighter," Sanchez added. Sams remains in custody. An attorney CBS News Miami spoke with on Wednesday said a family member of Sams' had inquired about legal representation, but no formal engagement had been made. Anyone with information is asked to contact South Miami Police at (305) 663-6301 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).
CBS News
6 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Fire engulfs two boats at a Coconut Grove marina
As thick smoke billowed into the air, Miami firefighters battled a large boat fire Tuesday morning at the Grove Isles Marina in Coconut Grove. Miami Fire Rescue said the call came in around 7:30 a.m. When fire crews arrived, they found two cruising vessels fully engulfed in flames at the dock, posing a threat to nearby boats. The fire was immediately upgraded, and additional resources, including the Miami Fireboat and a hazardous materials team were called in. Firefighters initiated an aggressive attack while trying to keep the flame from spreading to the surrounding vessels. Within ten minutes, the fire was brought under control. The two boats that caught fire, in the 30 to 40 range, were severely damaged. Miami Fire Rescue said two smaller boats adjacent to them had heat damage to their exterior sides, but no interior damage was reported. The Miami Fire Investigation Unit is working to determine the cause of the fire. No injuries were reported. Latest in a string of boat fires in South Florida South Florida has seen a number of boat fire in recent weeks. On June 6, multiple boats were destroyed or damaged by fire in Sunny Isles Beach. The boats were docked behind an apartment building at 400 Sunny Isles Boulevard, near Oleta River State Park. More than 25 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units fought flames, assisted by crews from Miami Fire Rescue, the U.S. Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife. No injuries were reported. On June 4, a fire broke out on a 50-foot docked at 2612 Whale Harbor Lane in Fort Lauderdale. On May 28, there were two boat fires. One was near Port Everglades cut. One person was rescued and treated for burn injuries. The other was an explosion and fire on a 39-foot Sea Ray with 15 people on board. It happened as the boat was heading on the Intracoastal Waterway near Ft. Lauderdale after refueling. Eleven people were taken to the hospital, where one died.
Miami Herald
11-06-2025
- Miami Herald
Driver who killed a woman in Little Havana hit-and-run was drunk, charges upped, cops say
A new toxicology report revealed that a woman was over twice the legal alcohol limit when she struck and killed a woman with her car and sped off on Southwest Seventh Street in Little Havana last month, police say. Ivana Gomez, 32, now has been charged with DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide in a reckless manner in addition to her original charges of leaving the scene of a crash involving death and resisting an officer without violence. Around 1:15 a.m. on May 30, Gomez sped past Miami Police officer A. Fernandez in her blue 2019 BMW 330i at what the arrest report described as a 'very high rate of speed.' READ MORE: 'It was just a homeless person,' driver in fatal hit-and-run tells Miami police As Fernandez followed, he saw Gomez strike a pedestrian and keep driving. The impact was so violent that the victim's hair was later found on both the windshield and inside the car. Despite the officer activating his lights and sirens, Gomez didn't pull over. She finally came to a stop at a red light at Beacom Boulevard, where two cars were stopped in front of her, according to the report. When the officer walked up to Gomez's driver's side window, he immediately smelled a strong odor of alcohol on her breath, according to the arrest report. Her eyes were bloodshot and watery, and she was alone in the car. She was taken into custody. While sitting in the back of a patrol car, police say Gomez spontaneously said, 'It was just a homeless person that I hit and it is just an accident.' 'She hit a human' Gomez appeared in bond court the day after the crash, where she faced Judge William Altfield, and the loved ones of Kathryn Kipnis, 41, the woman she is accused of killing. 'A shining light has been taken out of this world by the incredible irresponsibility of this defendant, and that Katie was an amazing person and so deeply loved,' Kipnis' cousin Rachel Kipnis told the judge via zoom. 'She hit a human, there is a Katie-sized hole in her windshield, and [she] tried to get away with it,' said an emotional Rachel Kipnis. During bond court, prosecutors added that officer Fernandez had to speed at about 100-110 miles per hour to catch up to her at the 30 mph speed limit. Results of toxicology report At 3:45 a.m., the day of the crash, Miami Fire Rescue performed an emergency blood draw on the defendant, even though she refused to give consent, according to police. Traffic Homicide Detective A. Mena also helped with the investigation and noticed what looked like fresh vomit on the driver's side of the car, the arrest report read. Later, a judge approved a search warrant for a formal blood draw. Miami Fire Rescue arrived at the Miami Police Department's South District substation and completed the first court-authorized blood draw at 6:02 a.m. They returned for a second blood draw at 7:08 a.m. When rescue personnel arrived for the second draw, the defendant refused to cooperate with officers during processing. As officers tried to help her stand, she resisted by bracing her body. She also refused to get into the rescue truck, locking her knees and resisting. Officers had to force her into the truck, and while doing so, she hit her head on the truck's frame. Paramedics checked her injuries, but she did not require hospitalization. On Monday, police received the toxicology report. These are the results, per police: ▪ Blood sample taken at 3:45 a.m., about two hours and 30 minutes after the crash, showed a blood alcohol level of 0.162 ▪ Blood sample taken at 6:02 a.m. nearly 5 hours after the crash, showed a blood alcohol level of 0.112 ▪ Blood sample taken at 7:08 a.m. showed a blood alcohol level of 0.088. All results were above the legal alcohol limit of 0.08%. Judge Altfield set her bond at $251,500 for her original charges. Jail records show that Gomez remains in custody at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center as of Wednesday morning.
CBS News
11-06-2025
- CBS News
Pedestrian killed, 2 injured in multi-vehicle crash near Shenandoah Park, Miami police say
A pedestrian was killed and two others were injured Tuesday evening in a three-vehicle crash near Shenandoah Park, according to the Miami Police Department. Miami police said the crash occurred shortly before 7 p.m. at the intersection of 21st Avenue and 19th Street. A vehicle struck a pedestrian, who was pronounced dead at the scene, before hitting an unoccupied parked vehicle. That vehicle then collided with an occupied ice cream truck, police said. According to police, the female occupant of the ice cream truck and the male driver of the initial vehicle were both transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital's trauma center by Miami Fire Rescue. Authorities established a perimeter to preserve the scene as the investigation continues. No additional details were immediately available.
CBS News
09-06-2025
- CBS News
Woman killed in early morning Miami hit-and-run crash
A woman was killed in an early morning hit and run accident Monday in Miami. Police said just after 8 a.m. officers were sent to NW 7 Avenue and 60 Street to check out a report that a pedestrian had been hit. When officers arrived they found a woman, described as being in her 50s, who was unresponsive and had multiple lacerations, according to police. Miami Fire Rescue arrived and pronounced the woman dead. Miami police are continuing to investigate and are urging anyone with information to come forward. As of now, officials have not released a description of the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run.
