Bodycam footage obtained Tuesday by Local 10 News shows the arrest of a man who is accused of committing a hate crime in Miami Beach earlier this year.
Junior Rafael Arias, 22, was arrested on Sept. 18 after police said he attacked a gay man on South Beach.
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He is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon — with a hate crime enhancement — and resisting arrest.
According to Miami Beach police, the beating happened just before 6 a.m. on Sept. 18 on the beach near Lummus Park.
Police said the victim, a South Beach local, was about to change in a beach tent for his morning swim when Arias, who is homeless, “approached him aggressively and told him to leave.”
An arrest report states that the victim and Arias got into an argument after the victim told him he was not leaving.
“The victim stated in order to defend himself, he used a white pole that was attached to the beach umbrella tents to attempt to push the defendant away,” police wrote in the report. “However, the victim advised that (Arias) overpowered him, took the pole, and began striking him with it. The victim advised that he was able to escape and flee the beach.”
Authorities said the victim sustained cuts and bruises from the attack.
Police said the victim was able to point to Arias as the suspect. Authorities said Arias was “extremely uncooperative” and refused to give his name, but officers were able to identify him through prior encounters.
Arias is said to have a violent criminal history with multiple open cases.
