University of Miami Medical Campus Crime Summary Report June 2009 **Tip of the Month** A True Story The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Thursday, February 19, 2009 Police: Brazen suspect returned to scene of Midtown slaying Atlanta man, 22, charged with murder, met the victim by chance while viewing condos Their fateful meeting at the high-rise Midtown condo complex the prominent cancer researcher and the young man described by police as a two-bit criminal was nothing but chance. The victim, who had a condo on the building s 20th floor, was walking her dog. The subject, fresh off a meal at a nearby fast-food restaurant, wandered in under the pretense of shopping for condos in the luxury building that boasts private elevators, around-the-clock security and skyline-view homes that cost as much as $2.5 million. The victim undoubtedly thought she was seizing on an opportunity to sell her condo. But it was the subject police say, who was looking for opportunity. Early Thursday morning, authorities arrested the subject and charged him with beating the victim to death as she showed him around her penthouse condo. After the killing, and after he went on a spending spree with the victim s credit cards, he got bolder, returning to the scene of the crime late Wednesday night and trying to con his way back inside the victim s, police said. He was extremely brazen, said the Atlanta police commander of the department s homicide unit. It s a little unsettling when people are that bold. I can t even put it into words. Just two weeks into retirement, the victim wanted to sell her condo so she could move in with her fiancé. While crossing through the building s lobby, she overheard the subject and a real-estate agent chatting about taking a tour of two condos that were for sale, The victim said, Don t forget about mine. It s for sale, also, The subject didn t. After the tour, a security guard called the victim and said that the subject was in the lobby. Would you like for me to escort him up? the guard asked the victim, No, it ll be fine, the victim responded. I don t want him to think that we don t trust him. The subject spent 20 to 30 minutes in the unit before hitting the victim on the back of the head with an unknown object in the kitchen. He dragged the victim into the pantry, took a diamond ring off her finger, about $68 in cash, her credit cards and her condo electronic swipe card before leaving. She died from blunt force trauma. It s not clear whether the subject seriously intended to buy a home in the building or had the money to do so. The police suspected the subject wanted to case the condos for valuables and didn t realize beforehand that the first two were vacant.
Thefts 06/03 Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Employee reported that a $2,500.00 tonometer was missing from a 4 th floor exam room. 06/03 Diabetes Research Institute Unicco reported that $3,800.00 worth of lawn maintenance equipment was taken from an unsecured storage room on the north side of the building. 06/08 Sylvester Cancer Center Employee reported that her purse was missing from an unsecured office and desk drawer on the 2 nd floor. Pursed contained her driver license, 3 credit cards, theme park tickets and a digital camera. Items valued at $170.00. 06/12 UM Hospital and Clinics Contractor reported that a Dell laptop computer was missing from a ground floor office. 06/10 Sylvester Cancer Center Deerfield Beach Employee reported that a Dell laptop computer left in an unsecured 2 nd floor office a week ago was missing. Item valued at $1,500.00. 06/16 Jackson Medical Towers Employee reported that $200 cash was missing from a desk drawer in a secured 8 th floor office. 06/19 Kendall Medical Center Employee reported that 8 or 9 bottles of water were missing from a small refrigerator located in a 1 st floor treatment area. 06/19 Rosenstiel Medical Science Building Physician reported that an old Mitsubishi VHS recorder was missing from a 5 th floor lab. The item was not functional. 06/25 Jackson Medical Towers Employee reported that she noticed that her wallet was missing and she thought she lost it the garage. The wallet contained $35 cash, credit card, debit card and identification. Assault None
Burglary 06/05 Linda Ray Center Security responded to a burglar alarm and discovered a broken window. Miami Police contacted and while waiting for arrival a male exited the window and attempted to flee. Security detained the make and he was arrested and charged with burglary. (Solved) Vehicle Incidents 06/01 Sieron Building Employee reported damage to the east emergency exit done by a golf cart backing into the door. 06/05 14 th Street Garage Employee reported minor damage to her vehicle while parked on the 4 th level. 06/05 Sylvester Cancer Center A palm frond fell and caused minor to a vehicle parked in the Valet area. 06/11 Highland Garage Employee reported finding scratches on the bumper of his car parked on the 1 st floor. 06/16 14 th Street Garage Employee struck another employee while exiting the garage. Minor damage and no injuries. 06/27 Sewell Building Visitor backed into a parked vehicle in the south parking lot. Trespassers 06/05 Sylvester Cancer Center Security called regarding an unauthorized make in the Valet area. Male contacted and escorted off the property. 06/06 Rosenstiel Medical Science Building Security discovered a male sleeping near a door on the north side of the building. Male escorted away from the building. 06/09 Dominion Garage Security called to a ground floor restaurant regarding a suspicious male. Male contacted and escorted out of the building. 06/10 Vinciana Building Security discovered a male removing scrap metal from the dumpster. The male was escorted off the property.
06/11 Dominion Garage Security called regarding a suspicious male on the southeast corner of the building. Male was observed defecating near a light pole. Miami-Dade Homeless Assistance Program Outreach Officers responded and transported the male to their facility. 06/11 Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Employee advised security of a male panhandling in the Retter Café patio. The male was observed leaving the area when security arrived. 06/15 Clinical Research Building Security discovered a male sleeping near 14 th Street and 11 th Court. The Homeless Assistance Program staff responded and transported the male to their facility. 06/16 Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Security observed a suspicious male in the food court area on video. Responding security could not locate the male. 06/18 Papanicolaou Cancer Research Building Security discovered a male near a dumpster next to the building. The male was escorted away from the area. 06/19 Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Security observed a suspicious male loitering near the patio area. Later he was observed at the Calder Library patio area. The Homeless Assistance Program responded and provided transportation for the male to their facility. 06/19 Park Plaza East Employee called regarding a male harassing passersby near a ground floor office main entrance. Security contacted the male and he left the area. 06/19 Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Security observed a suspicious male in a 6 th floor waiting area. Security contacted the male who admitted to having no reason for being in the building and he was escorted out. 06/22 Park Plaza East Security called regarding a female loitering in front of a ground floor office. Security responded and the female was observed leaving the area. 06/22 Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Security observed a suspicious female in a 6 th floor waiting area taking food items left out for patients. It was determined that the female had no business with the hospital and was escorted out of the building. 06/24 Lois Pope Life Center A suspicious male entered the building and was requesting an appointment with a particular physician. After obtaining an appointment and leaving he returned and caused a disturbance and was escorted out of the building.
06/26 Sylvester Cancer Center Security advised of a male in the east side courtyard urinating on the ground. The male was contacted and escorted off of the property. 06/29 Sylvester Cancer Center Security observed male harassing employees in the east side courtyard. The male was escorted off the property. 06/29 Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Security advised of a male panhandling in the 1 st floor food court. The male was escorted out of the building. 06/29 15 th Street Garage Security observed an unauthorized female in the 1 st floor lobby. Miami Police responded and took custody of the female. Escorts University of Miami Security Officers provided escorts to any place on campus, including Metrorail. We encourage you to use this service when walking alone and particularly after hours. Security Officers will meet you at your work location and escort you safely to your vehicle, Metrorail, or any other building on campus. Call 243-6079 to request an escort. You may be able to reduce your waiting time if you call a few minutes before you are ready to leave. During June, security officers provided 139 escorts with an average waiting time of 3:35 minutes. General Information FREE SECURITY SURVEYS or CRIME PREVENTION SEMINARS Conducted on an individual or group basis. To make an appointment or to request information, call Lee Michaud, Crime Prevention & Training Manager at 243-5084. CRIME TIP HOTLINE (243-6280) Caller can remain anonymous. All information kept confidential. Ask for Craig Hopkins, Investigator at 243-6280.