Man swinging knife at people on Ocean Drive says he was ‘just trying to get girls’ numbers’: Cops

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Miami Beach police say a 25-year-old man caused a scare on Ocean Drive on Tuesday night, swinging a knife and “harassing patrons” in the popular tourist area on South Beach.

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Authorities said it happened just after 11:45 p.m. near Ninth Street. An arrest report from the Miami Beach Police Department states that a worker at Mango’s nightclub reported that a man, later identified as Juan Luis Rivera Jr., was exhibiting the threatening behaviors.

Police said they were able to track down two victims, who said Rivera approached them, lifted his jacket to show a pocketknife in his waistband and was “mumbling incoherently.”

According to the report, Rivera then followed the victims and was eventually “flanking” them, asking them, “Why y’all walking so fast?” while holding the knife in his hand.

Authorities said after noticing police officers in the area, Rivera took off. They said two witnesses later flagged down two police officers and pointed out Rivera, who was walking nearby.

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Police said they detained him and found the folding knife. The report states that Rivera told the officers, “I didn’t do anything. I was just trying to get girls’ numbers.”

Police arrested Rivera, who has an address in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood, on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon just after midnight on Wednesday.

As of Thursday morning, he was being held in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $5,000 bond.

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