Two men from Germany were arrested after police said they were caught on surveillance video defacing a bench with antisemitic graffiti in Miami Beach.
Authorities said it happened Monday at around 5:34 p.m., when Miami Beach police officers responded to the area of 12th Street and Ocean Drive.
Police said officers found writing including a swastika and the words “Adolf Was Here” on an LGBTQIA+ bench located within Lummus Park.
Using surveillance video from city cameras, police were able to track down the two men involved.
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MIAMI BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT
MIAMI BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT
Two men from Germany were arrested after police said they were caught on surveillance video defacing a bench with antisemitic graffiti in Miami Beach.
According to arrest reports, the footage shows how 58-year-old Christoph Rehak asked one of his friends for a marker, then he and 63-year-old Gunther Jekschtat sat on the bench next to each other.
“Mr. Rehak began to write on the bench while Mr. Jekschtat blocked him with his body so he could not be seen,” an arrest report states.
All of the men then left the area before they were tracked down to the Colony Hotel. Police saw them leaving and “quickly detained them.”
The group was taken to the Miami Beach Police Station to be interviewed, where Rehak allegedly confessed and said he wrote on the bench “as a joke.” He also allowed police to view his phone, where photos of the graffiti were found, police said.
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Jekschtat, meanwhile, allegedly confessed to being aware that Rehak had written the antisemitic graffiti and purposely blocked him “to defend his friend,” according to an arrest report.
“He also apologized for lying” and “explained to the officers that he did not known why Mr. Rehak wrote that specific remark he believed he did it as a joke,” the report states.
In Florida, crimes are subject to increased penalties if there’s evidence of certain prejudice. These are known as hate crimes.
“Upon being further interviewed, Mr. Rehak did not show intent of the remark as being a hate crime,” an arrest report states. Further details were not immediately available.
Rehak and Jekschtat were arrested and charged with criminal mischief of more than $200 and less than $1,000.
A suspected burglar found naked inside a Miami Beach apartment attacked a detective before he was taken into custody, police said.
Cristian Diazmore, 21, was arrested Monday on charges including battery of a police officer, resisting an officer with violence, and burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, Miami-Dade jail records showed.
According to an arrest report, the incident happened Monday at the building at 7610 Harding Avenue, where detectives were following up on a burglary case that happened Sunday.
While there, the detectives were alerted by housekeeping that a man had been looking through the window of the unit minutes before the detectives arrived.
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A detective went into the unit, which appeared to have been ransacked, and saw Diazmore at the end of the hallway completely nude, before Diazmore fled into a room and closed the door then fled through a backdoor, the report said.
A short time later the detectives were flagged down by a security officer for the nearby Temple Menorah, who said a man who was barefoot and wearing only shorts was trying to get into their school.
One of the detectives found Diazmore in the alley of the school but he fled again, the report said.
The detectives chased him and when one caught up to him, Diazmore elbowed him in the face, causing an abrasion and swelling and causing the detective to fall to the ground and injure his elbow, the report said.
Diazmore continued to flee and jumped a fence but was cornered by the detectives and took a fighting stance, the report said.
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The injured detective then punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground, before he was taken into custody, the report said.
Diazmore was booked into jail and expected to appear in bond court on Tuesday.
MIAMI — A man facing a murder charge related to a condo death in Miami Beach has been released on bond.
Corey Hutterli, 37, of Parkland, was granted a $150,000 bond by a judge on Thursday.
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Corey Hutterli Mugshot for Corey Hutterli, 37, of Parkland.
Hutterli is accused of pushing Justin Zelin, 35, off a 25th-floor balcony at the Akoya Condominiums, located at 6365 Collins Ave. on Mid-Beach on Feb. 15.
His attorneys say the state’s case is purely circumstantial.
Hutterli is facing charges of second-degree murder, burglary with assault or battery, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
🏠 News From Your Neighborhood
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David Dwork
David Dwork joined the WPLG Local 10 News team in August 2019. Born and raised in Miami-Dade County, David has covered South Florida sports since 2007.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami is hosting its first World Cup match Monday night when Saudi Arabia takes on Uruguay at 6 p.m. at Miami Stadium.
WATCH BELOW: Amerant Bank Arena holding free watch parties
Amerant Bank Arena hosting free World Cup watch parties
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Uruguay arrived in South Florida on Sunday night after the team’s plane was delayed for a couple of hours in Mexico. The team held a training session in Cancun on Sunday morning before making the trip.
Miami is also hosting the FIFA Fan Festival at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami. The festival runs through July 5 and features live broadcasts of matches, interactive soccer experiences, food, family-friendly activities and special guest appearances.
Read more of our World Cup, soccer coverage
FBI Miami has security preparations in place for World Cup matches in South Florida and the fan festival. Security plans include strict drone bans at Miami Stadium and Bayfront Park. Violators could face $100,000 fines and jail time.
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WATCH BELOW: World Cup in Miami: Transit options that could save you money
World Cup in Miami: Transit options that could save you money
Brightline is the official transit partner for the World Cup in Miami. Thousands of fans are heading to Miami Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and transit options like Brightline and Tri-Rail could save travelers significant money compared to driving and parking.
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Miami Stadium will host a total of seven matches, with the final match at the venues scheduled for Saturday, July 18 at 5 p.m.
For the complete World Cup schedule, click here.
Read more of WPTV’s coverage below:
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Amerant Bank Arena hosting free World Cup watch parties
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Local tavern gears up for World Cup with free beer deals
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World Cup in Miami: Transit options that could save you money
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This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
