Miami, FL

Miami police: Human trafficker threatened to kill victim with Haitian Vodou

Published

5 months ago

February 6, 2026

Miami police: Human trafficker threatened to kill victim with Haitian Vodou

MIAMI — Some of the threats that a 37-year-old man made to force a 20-year-old woman into prostitution included killing her with Haitian Vodou, according to Miami police.

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A police officer fluent in Haitian Creole helped a Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office human trafficking task force investigator and a Miami detective to communicate with the victim, records show.

She was in the emergency room at Mount Sinai Hospital, where she had been receiving treatment for injuries after a crash involving an RV, according to police.

“The victim explained he was not like this at the beginning, but for the last couple of months,” a detective wrote, according to the police arrest report.

Police officers arrested Joanel “Tyson” Herard on Thursday morning at North Miami Avenue and 79 Street near his home in Miami’s Little River neighborhood, according to a police report.

The woman reported she had met Herard, 37, “a few months ago,” was in a “romantic relationship with him” that seemed “normal at first” until he forced her into prostitution to use the “money for food, marijuana, and dope … would not allow her to keep any” and “would punch her and beat her up,” according to police.

Herard admitted “he sells weed on the streets,” was “having a sexual relationship with her,” and he “wanted to scare her and intimidate her,” but he denied “selling her for money,” according to police.

A detective found a video stored in Herard’s cell phone showing an argument between him and the victim where he used expletives, according to a police report.

“Want to die, like, I told you, I am going to Voodoo, I am going to sell you for money for Haiti, and I am going to trade you for money,” Herard told the victim during the recording of the video, according to police.

Herard faced three charges: Human trafficking for commercial sexual activity via coercion, deriving support from the proceeds of prostitution, and battery. A judge denied him bail for the human trafficking charge. His bond for the other charges was $8,500.

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Miami, FL

Bugtopia takes center stage at Zoo Miami

Published

10 hours ago

June 27, 2026

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Bugtopia takes center stage at Zoo Miami

Larger-than-life bug animatronics invade Zoo Miami for a limited-time event.

Families looking for something to do in the city might consider visiting Zoo Miami for their Bugtopia event, which starts on June 27 to October 31.

The zoo will host 13 gigantic animatronics and two photo-op stations.

Starting from the entrance all the way to the Conservation Action Center, guests will find the larger-than-life insects accompanied by colorful comic-style panels with fun facts and sound effects.

The first 250 guests to arrive on June 27 and 28 will receive zoo sunglasses and a free voucher for a kid’s meal from their local Flanigan’s.

Those two opening days will also have a kid-friendly DJ present for extra entertainment.

There will also be “bug-themed tastings” on June 27.

The event will have insect investigation stations as well as microscopic insect explorations called “bug detectives”.

Anyone who completes these activities will earn a junior entomologist certificate.

For families looking for something to do in Miami this summer, you might consider Bugtopia for your next stop.

For more information, click here..

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Miami, FL

Helping Venezuela: Miami search-and-rescue team prepares to deploy

Published

20 hours ago

June 27, 2026

Press Room

Helping Venezuela: Miami search-and-rescue team prepares to deploy

Published: June 27, 2026 at 12:07 AM

Residents walks through the rubble two days after earthquakes struck Catia La Mar, Venezuela, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Fernando Vergara/AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

MIAMI — Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins announced on Friday that the city’s fire rescue personnel were preparing to deploy to Venezuela’s disaster zone.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava also met with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel, who were also packing for deployment.

“This is something that is important work. We have one of the most well-trained, committed teams in the United States,” Higgins said, according to a video the city released on Friday night.

The U.S. State Department activated Florida Task Force 2, or FL-TF2, an urban search-and-rescue team of about 230, including physicians, structural engineers, hazardous material technicians, and K-9 handlers.

“It’s devastating what happened in Venezuela, so we are making sure that they have the support that they need, and we are going to send a team of 80 people,” Miami Commissioner Rolando Escalona said, according to the city’s video published on X.

The State Department also activated Florida Task Force 1, MDFR Chief Raied “Ray” Jadallah’s team, which has experience working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

After the devastating 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes struck late Wednesday, the Trump administration first announced the deployment of search-and-rescue teams from California and Virginia.

Related list: Drop-off locations in South Florida

Today, City of Miami leadership stood alongside Miami Fire Rescue personnel designated for deployment to Venezuela following a series of devastating earthquakes. The City reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to humanitarian relief as the federal government’s activation of USAR… pic.twitter.com/C2ul3VEOiT
— City of Miami (@CityofMiami) June 27, 2026

More HELPING VENEZUELA coverage

Venezuela Survivors walk on Friday near a toy that was abandoned in the rubble of an apartment building in Catia La Mar, Venezuela. (AP Foto/Fernando Vergara) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Fernando Vergara/AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

APTOPIX Venezuela Earthquake Rescue workers aid Daniel Cordero after pulling him from the rubble two days after an earthquake struck Catia la Mar, Venezuela, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Fernando Vergara/AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Venezuela Earthquake Venezuelan Police searches through the rubble two days after earthquake struck La Guaira, Venezuela, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Ariana Cubillos/AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

APTOPIX Venezuela Earthquake Rescue workers place Daniel Cordero on a stretcher after pulling him from the rubble two days after an earthquake struck Catia la Mar, Venezuela, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Fernando Vergara/AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Venezuela Earthquake Members of a religious organization distribute food to people affected two days after an earthquake struck La Guaira, Venezuela, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Ariana Cubillos/AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Andrea Torres

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

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Miami, FL

Helping Venezuela: State Department deploys Miami-Dade search-and-rescue team

Published

1 day ago

June 26, 2026

Press Room

Helping Venezuela: State Department deploys Miami-Dade search-and-rescue team

Published: June 26, 2026 at 3:36 PM

Updated: June 26, 2026 at 3:48 PM

Residents search through the rubble two days after an earthquake struck La Guaira, Venezuela, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Ariana Cubillos/AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

MIAMI — Miami-Dade Fire Rescue announced on Friday that the U.S. State Department “activated” the department’s search-and-rescue team to work in Venezuela after the two earthquakes.

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The fire rescue personnel with the Urban Search and Rescue, or USAR, and Florida Task Force 1, or FLTF1, which includes 80 specialists, will support search and rescue operations.

“We know that many people in our community have family, friends, and loved ones in Venezuela, which makes this mission especially meaningful to us,” a MDFR spokesperson wrote in a statement. “We deploy with a single purpose: to provide hope and assist those who have been affected during this difficult time.”

The FLTF1 “Type I” team also includes six canine teams and experts in 19 areas, including command and control, technical search, structural evaluation and stabilization, planning and technical information, advanced medical care, hazardous materials mitigation, tactical communications, logistics, safety, and technical rescue.

The State Department had already deployed two urban search and rescue teams from Los Angeles and Fairfax, Virginia, that had worked together in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa.

More HELPING VENEZUELA coverage

Andrea Torres

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

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