Miami, FL
Police: Miami ‘sweep’ in Overtown, Model City, Little Haiti reacts to ‘troubling increase’ in shootings
MIAMI — James Williams, Joaquim Smith, and Michael Rube Flurencio were at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center early Friday morning, records show.
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Corrections booked them on Thursday morning, and they faced charges in separate cases with the Miami Police Department, records show.
Their arrests on Wednesday were during a police “sweep” in the Overtown, Model City, and Little Haiti neighborhoods, according to Officer Michael Vega.
Miami detectives approached Williams, 33, and two other men after seeing them in a dark street on Wednesday night in the Overtown neighborhood.
Williams, a convicted felon, raised his arms, and when a detective asked if he was armed, he surrendered a stolen Glock 27, according to detectives.
The operation was in response to “a troubling increase” in shootings and homicides, according to Officer Michael Vega, who did not define the increase.
Smith, who was carrying a PSA Dagger pistol, was in a Mercedes-Benz with dark-tinted windows in Overtown, according to a detective’s report.
Smith, 27, of Miami Gardens, had marijuana in his pocket, and 35.4 grams stored in plastic baggies in the Mercedes-Benz, according to detectives.
Rubel Florencio was in another Mercedes-Benz with dark-tinted windows in Little Haiti with about 180 pills of Oxycodone, according to a police report.
Rubel Florencio, 28, of Hialeah, was “visibly nervous as his chest was rising and falling rapidly, and his hands were trembling,” according to a detective.
Vega, a spokesman for the police department, listed the arrests of Zakia Joseph, 27, of Miramar, and Dominick Martin, 36, who is homeless, over pending warrants in unrelated cases as part of the operation.
According to Vega, the five arrests were part of the operation involving the department’s crime gun intelligence detail, the gang unit, and the FBI violent gang task force.
Williams faced charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, grand theft of a firearm, and carrying a concealed firearm.
Smith faced charges of possession of marijuana with intent to sell while armed, possession of marijuana near a school, and openly carrying a weapon.
Rubel Florencio faced a charge of trafficking Oxycodone.
Detectives asked anyone with information about these or other cases to call Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477 to remain anonymous.
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Miami, FL
Woman found dead on roadway in SW Miami-Dade
A woman was found dead on the roadway in Southwest Miami on Friday morning, deputies said.
According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, just before 6 a.m., deputies arrived at the 9800 block of Southwest 170th Street after receiving reports of a person who was unresponsive and lying on the roadway.
Once at the scene, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue pronounced the woman dead.
Her identity has not been released.
A death investigation is underway, and the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the woman’s cause of death.
MDSO said there are no suspects at this time.
Miami, FL
Hollywood residents warn e‑bikes are making Broadwalk more dangerous
Residents in Hollywood are raising concerns about electric bikes and scooters on the city’s popular Broadwalk, despite local ordinances banning motorized devices in the area.
CBS News Miami observed several riders using e‑bikes and scooters along the path on Friday, even though signs clearly prohibit them. Human‑powered bicycles remain common, but residents say the growing presence of e‑bikes makes the area more dangerous.
“It just seems like they are going pretty fast, and it’s amazing that we haven’t had a tragedy,” said George Pancol, who lives nearby.
City rules limit motorized devices
City rules allow only human‑powered devices on the Broadwalk, and riders must operate them safely. Hollywood police told CBS News Miami that violators can receive civil citations.
“It’s tough to enforce it. It would be nice if we could, but you just can’t have someone here 24/7,” Pancol said.
Some riders acknowledge restrictions
Some e‑bike users acknowledge the restrictions.
“I believe we cannot be here, but I know that, and I don’t do that,” said Erika Eias, who rides an e‑bike elsewhere.
Residents like Michel Desilets worry authorities aren’t doing enough.
“I think the authorities accept it. To me, they don’t care too much,” he said.
Accident data shows rising injuries
Hollywood Fire Department data shows there have been 136 bike‑related accidents on the Broadwalk this year.
While the department doesn’t distinguish between traditional bikes and e‑bikes, a source told CBS News Miami that many of the trauma injuries involve electric bikes.
Miami, FL
The team behind a very popular NYC pizzeria is opening a new spot in Miami
New York has never been shy about sending heavy hitters south for the winter and a new concept from the team behind Roberta’s—the cult-favorite Brooklyn pizzeria—just landed in North Beach. Ezio’s is the first new venture for the team, and it’s on track to be a hit.
Roberta’s is a bona fide NYC institution. The hip pizzeria known for its wood-fired, blistered Neapolitan-style pies has earned nods from critics and diners alike as one of the best and most influential restaurants in America. Roberta’s has outposts in Nashville, Culver City and even Singapore.
Although the pizzeria is clearly no stranger to expansion, Ezio’s is an entirely new concept. It was introduced in 2024 as a pop-up inside the original Roberta’s in Bushwick, and now it will have a permanent location right here in Miami.
Opening December 19 on the ground floor of North Beach’s sleek new 72 Park tower, Ezio’s reimagines Italian hospitality through a Miami lens. Co-owners Brandon Hoy and chef Carlo Mirarchi (the latter naming the restaurant in tribute to his father) have traded pizza ovens for white tablecloths and upscale food.
A raw bar featuring locally-sourced seafood anchors the menu with stone crab claws and wild-caught fin fish crudo. Luxe starters include wagyu carpaccio with husk cherries and caviar and honey mango wrapped in prosciutto. House-made pastas include linguine cacio e pepe with winter truffle, and pappardelle with braised veal and parmigiano Reggiano.
But the showstopper is the custom dry-aging program, which includes a 55-day dry-aged Kansas City steak and a 90-day dry-aged bone-in wagyu strip. The lineup calls out for meals of celebratory excess.
The cocktail program is just as impressive, with tableside martinis customizable with caviar or oysters, of course. Signatures like the Honeydew Spritz and Alpine Italian Boulevard are bright but grown-up, while a 110-plus-label wine list covers Italy, France, Portugal, Argentina and California.
The setting is glamorous, with dark woods, velvet, burgundy banquettes and moody lighting. This isn’t the casual vibe of Roberta’s, but it’s set to be something just as buzzy, and North Beach is ready to welcome the team.
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