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Miami, FL

Sweetwater police arrest man in counterfeit bust at Dolphin Mall

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Sweetwater police arrest man in counterfeit bust at Dolphin Mall



Sweetwater police announced an arrest at Dolphin Mall ahead of the holiday shopping season.

Officers arrested 24-year-old Luis Merchan-Meron on two felony counts related to counterfeit goods. Investigators said they seized more than 150 items worth thousands of dollars from the back of his truck.

According to court documents, an undercover officer spotted a transaction in the mall parking lot from about 10 feet away. 

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Police moved in after witnessing someone allegedly buying designer bags from Merchan-Meron.

Operation Safe Holidays ramps up security 

Sweetwater Assistant Police Chief Frank Fernandez said the department has increased security at the mall with uniformed and undercover officers as part of the city’s “Operation Safe Holidays” program.

“We have eyes, we have drones, we have motorcycles, we have uniforms, we have plain clothes. You can’t get away from us now,” Fernandez said.

Mayor stresses zero tolerance for fakes 

Mayor Jose “Pepe” Diaz said the city has zero tolerance for counterfeit sales and has invested heavily in protecting shoppers.

“It’s all here to make sure that we protect those citizens that are coming here to make the purchase,” Diaz said. “Have a good time with your families, but there’s people that try to do illicit things like selling fake merchandise.”

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Court records detail alleged profit margins 

Court records show Merchan-Meron told police he buys the goods for about $8 each and sells them for up to $60. He said he does not know the supplier, only that the items are shipped from overseas.



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Miami, FL

Man accused of robbing woman near South Miami Market while armed, masked

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Man accused of robbing woman near South Miami Market while armed, masked


SOUTH MIAMI, Fla. — A 34-year-old man was arrested in connection with an attempted armed robbery reported earlier this month near South Miami Market, police said.

The robbery occurred on Jan. 15 just after 10:30 a.m. near the 6700 block of Southwest 61st Street

Officers with the South Miami Police Department identified the suspect in an arrest report as Bobby Lathan Turner.

They said a woman reported she had just been robbed while taking out her garbage at an apartment complex near Southwest 66th Terrace and Southwest 59th Place.

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The victim told officers she was walking back to her vehicle when an unknown man, who police identified as Turner, followed her from the dumpster area and demanded her purse while pointing an unknown object concealed in his pocket, causing her to fear he was armed.

Authorities said the victim attempted to call for help, but Turner forcibly took her cellphone to prevent a 911 call before grabbing her Louis Vuitton purse and fleeing on foot.

Using tracking data from the stolen phone, officers traced its location to a nearby residence.

Police said Turner was seen fleeing the home on foot while holding a bag and ignoring commands to stop. A K-9 search and aerial support were unable to locate him at the time.

Further investigation, including surveillance video from the apartment complex, showed Turner lingering in the area and hiding inside the dumpster enclosure before following the victim into a darkened area, according to the report.

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Authorities said Turner was eventually taken into custody with the help of video evidence, tracking data, prior cases and officer identification.

They said Turner turned himself in to SMPD headquarters on Tuesday, was advised of his Miranda rights, and declined to answer questions.

Jail records show he is facing one count each of attempted armed robbery while wearing a mask, resisting an officer with violence, and misuse of 911 or emergency communications. He is also expected to face a probation violation warrant.

As of Wednesday, he was being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.



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Miami, FL

Fontainebleau hotel worker accused of stealing Miami Hurricanes championship ring

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Fontainebleau hotel worker accused of stealing Miami Hurricanes championship ring


Miami Beach Police arrested an employee at the iconic Fontainebleau hotel, alleging that he stole a Miami Hurricanes championship ring from the lobby.

Police said the theft happened Sunday at the same hotel where the UM team was staying for the championship game on Monday.

According to an arrest report, surveillance video showed a man – later identified as Jean Dor – picking up a ring from the hotel lobby, placing it into his pocket and then walking away with it.

The ring belonged to Cari-Anne Constant, who was wearing a larger male version of the University of Miami championship ring that had belonged to her former husband. She received the ring as the co-captain of Sunsations dance team.

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Constant took it to a party at the LIV nightclub inside the hotel, a celebration for the championship game between the Hurricanes and the Hoosiers, which she attended with her boyfriend, Joe Mullins.

“That ring was very special to her,” Mullins said.

He said Constant took it off momentarily and put it on the table. As she walked out of the hotel, she realized it was missing.

Investigators said surveillance video shows Dor leaving the property, examining the ring outside, then re-entering the hotel with it still in his possession.

Dor never turned the ring into lost and found or notified hotel staff, police said.

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“She was pretty shocked. It was very disturbing to her that the ring was stolen,” Mullins said. “It’s worth about $3,500 is what they paid for it.”

Dor told police he intended to turn the ring in but claimed he forgot it on a bathroom counter while cleaning a restroom.

Officers said he was read his Miranda rights in Creole and signed a written statement acknowledging he found the ring and failed to return it.

Dor was suspended from his job, trespassed from the Fontainebleau property, and taken into custody.

“It’s more sentimental,” Mullins said. “It means more to her. I hope he does the right thing and returning it.”

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NBC6 reached out to both the hotel and police for the surveillance footage and a comment on the man accused of stealing the ring, but we have not heard back yet.



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Man accused of shooting ex-girlfriend at Miami nail salon

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Man accused of shooting ex-girlfriend at Miami nail salon


MIAMI — A 23-year-old man was arrested last week after he shot his ex-girlfriend in the thigh at her workplace in Miami, authorities said.

According to an arrest report from the Miami Police Department, Job Jocelyn, of Miami, was arrested Friday following the shooting at a shopping plaza located at 3721 NW Seventh St.

Police said Jocelyn and the victim dated for about three years and have no children in common.

According to the arrest report, the victim, who works at a nail salon, told officers that Jocelyn has been continuously texting and calling her regarding their relationship status and recently discovered that she has been communicating with another man.

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The victim told officers that she warned Jocelyn to stop calling her, saying she would call the police if he continued.

Police said Jocelyn then showed up at her workplace at about 1:30 p.m. Friday and confronted her, asking, “Are you really calling the police?”

According to the arrest report, Jocelyn then pulled out a gun and shot the victim in her left thigh.

Police said surveillance video from inside the business captured the shooting.

One witness told officers she was doing a client’s nails when she heard someone yelling, “Get out! Get out!” before seeing the victim running back to her booth, bleeding from her leg.

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Another witness said she was getting a pedicure when she saw Jocelyn walking in the hallway and then heard the victim scream. She said she also saw Jocelyn place the gun on the floor before picking it back up.

Jocelyn was arrested on charges of attempted murder/aggravated battery and possession of a firearm in violation of a risk protection order.

According to the report, after being transported to the City of Miami Domestic Violence Unit, he told a detective, “I don’t want to talk about nothing; I just want to get up out of here.”

Jocelyn was indeed taken out of there and was transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

According to his arrest report, there was a previous domestic violence investigation involving the former couple, which has since been closed, and on May 8, 2025, Jocelyn was served a risk protection order.

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As of Tuesday morning, he remained jailed at TGK without bond.

Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.



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