The Miami Herald reported on May 7 that just hours after a press conference announcing the arrest of two suspects in the murders at the Liberty Square housing projects last month, Miami-Dade prosecutors were expected to ask a judge to quash the arrest warrants the following morning in court. The Herald wrote that the “unusual development suggests authorities rushed to make an arrest in a high-profile killing.”
According to the Herald, homicide detectives had secured a probable cause arrest warrant that was reviewed by prosecutors and signed by a Miami-Dade judge based on the identification of an eyewitness. The Herald reported that sources said, “prosecutors expressed concerns about the weakness of the evidence during a meeting with top-ranking Miami police brass and the homicide detectives on Friday, the day before the arrests.”
One suspect claimed he was shopping with his mother at the time of the shootings, and supermarket surveillance video reviewed only after the suspect was booked confirmed his claim. At the press conference, Miami’s police chief and mayor also urged the capture of a third suspect still loose on the streets. The arrest warrant for the third suspect has also been canceled, according to the Herald.
The Herald reported that the Department of Corrections website showed both the 21-year-old and 19-year-old men arrested remain in jail more than two days after they were arrested on murder charges. When a person is arrested for murder in Florida, he or she is automatically incarcerated without bond.
Miami Lawyer for Arrest Warrants
Arrest warrants can be issued for many different reasons in Florida. While the aforementioned case involves suspects being identified as part of a criminal investigation, many people have warrants issued for their arrests as the result of failure to appear in court.
When an arrest warrant is issued, a person cannot just wait it out. Warrants remain in effect until the alleged offender is taken into custody or the warrant is withdrawn.
If you believe that a warrant has been issued for your arrest in South Florida, it is in your best interest to retain legal counsel as soon as possible. You may be able to resolve your warrant without the embarrassment of being arrested in public.
Evan Hoffman is an experienced criminal defense attorney in Miami who defends clients in communities all over the greater Miami-Dade County area. You can receive a free, confidential consultation that will let our lawyer review your case and answer all of your legal questions as soon as you call (305) 928-1669 or contact us online today.