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A man from Miami Beach was arrested this week after brutally beating his 75-year-old neighbor with an electric bike tire during an argument over trash, police reported.
The incident occurred on the 1200 block of Normandy Drive, just before noon last Monday. According to the police report, George Horton, 47 years old, attacked the elderly man following an argument over "the placement of the garbage."
Local 10 gained access to the arrest report detailing how Horton pushed his neighbor, and when the neighbor attempted to defend himself with a screwdriver meant for installing security cameras, the assailant grabbed a wheel rim from an electric bicycle and began striking him on the head, face, and body. Then, when the victim fell to the ground, Horton kicked him in the face.
"The victim suffered visible lacerations to the head, hands, and multiple abrasions on the body," the report details. Paramedics from Miami Beach attended to the injured person at the scene.
The police confirmed that surveillance footage captured the entire assault, which corroborated the account of events provided by the victim, Rodolfo Ortega.
Horton was arrested the next day after he returned to his neighbor's door shouting incoherently while the agents were monitoring the area. At the time of his arrest, the officers noticed a strong smell of alcohol on his breath.
The attacker was charged with aggravated assault against a person aged 65 or older, a first-degree felony in Florida. A judge ordered his detention without bail.
But the case took an unexpected turn. After failing to qualify for house arrest due to not having a verifiable address, Horton was released with an electronic ankle monitor and sent back to his previous residence, just steps away from Ortega's house.
Days later, the old man saw him at his door again. Horton broke his shackles and vanished, which led the police to classify him as a fugitive until he was finally arrested again this Wednesday.
“The guy is very dangerous for me,” Ortega told local media. “I live in fear, I don’t understand how they let him come back here.”
The case has raised questions about how authorities handled the release of a repeat offender who, despite having a restraining order, again threatened his victim.
Frequently Asked Questions about Incidents of Violence in Miami
What happened in the Miami Beach incident involving George Horton?
George Horton was arrested for brutally attacking his 75-year-old neighbor with an electric bicycle tire following a dispute over trash placement. The attack, captured by security cameras, left the victim with visible lacerations and resulted in an arrest without bail.
What were the legal consequences for George Horton?
Horton was charged with aggravated assault against a person aged 65 or older, a first-degree felony in Florida. Initially, he was released with an electronic ankle monitor, but he broke the device and was declared a fugitive until his subsequent arrest.
How is the assault of elderly individuals legally addressed in Florida?
In Florida, the assault of individuals aged 65 or older is a felony with severe penalties due to the vulnerability of the victims. This type of crime carries significant criminal consequences for the perpetrators.
What other recent incidents of violence have occurred in Miami?
Recently, several incidents of violence have been reported in Miami. For example, a 23-year-old firefighter assaulted an elderly man over a parking space, and in another case, a man injured two people with a machete during a dispute over parking in North Miami Beach.
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