Related videos:
A extensive police operation kept residents and workers on edge on Thursday in a commercial area of Hialeah, after a man accused of serious crimes against a minor barricaded himself armed for several hours in a storage facility before surrendering to authorities.
The suspect has been identified as José Luis Antigua Martínez, 60 years old. According to NBC Miami, the allegations against him date back to incidents that occurred in a home, where he reportedly attempted to justify his behavior by claiming that there were "ghosts" in the place.
That explanation, according to the police, was used to confuse the minor, who for months would wake up startled at night with the feeling that someone was touching her while she slept.
According to the police report, every time the teenager expressed her concerns, Antigua Martínez insisted that it was a matter of supernatural presences, even mentioning the alleged death of a child in the apartment.
The situation changed when a friend of the victim suggested recording what was happening during the night. The video, later reviewed by investigators, was crucial for the minor to report the incidents.
The investigation led to an arrest warrant that authorities attempted to execute early Thursday morning. However, the operation became tense when the man took refuge in a warehouse located near West Eighth Avenue and 81st Street, an area with various auto shops and restaurants.
Local 10 reported that the area was closed off for hours while SWAT units surrounded the location and negotiators attempted to convince him to surrender.
During the standoff, which lasted more than five hours, Antigua Martínez reportedly pointed her own weapon at herself and expressed suicidal intentions, according to the media outlet. Ultimately, she surrendered without any injuries being reported and was placed in custody. Following her arrest, she invoked her right to an attorney and did not provide any statements.
The case originated from a child protection investigation that began at the end of November. Prison records indicate that the accused remains in custody without the possibility of bail and faces multiple charges related to offenses against minors.
Univisión noted in one of its reports that Antigua Martínez is of Cuban origin, a fact that has particularly resonated within the Hialeah community, which is home to a large Cuban population.
The case has caused dismay and concern among neighbors and parents, not only due to the seriousness of the accusations but also because of the reported emotional manipulation and the police presence that paralyzed an entire area of the city.
Filed under: