Miami police release surveillance video after arrest in Bay of Pigs Monument vandalism case

MIAMI — Miami police on Friday released surveillance video showing the moments a man allegedly vandalized the historic Bay of Pigs Monument in Little Havana, days after his arrest.

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Police confirmed the arrest of 27-year-old Jean Carlo Rojas on Wednesday in connection with the damage to the monument at 806 SW 13th Ave.

According to investigators, a city of Miami parks employee reported the damage after being notified Sunday morning that the monument had been vandalized.

Detectives said damaged portion, described as the monument’s gray missile, had previously been repaired following an earlier act of vandalism. Officials estimated the new damage at $1,000.

They said surveillance video shows a man wearing a white tank top, black shorts and black shoes stepping on the missile portion of the monument around 9:18 p.m. Saturday, causing it to break.

After reviewing the footage and canvassing the area for additional video, detectives said they identified the suspect by his clothing and distinctive tattoos. While retrieving surveillance footage from a nearby business, the lead detective spotted Rojas standing on the sidewalk near the monument and called for officers to detain him.

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According to an arrest report, Rojas waived his Miranda rights and agreed to speak with detectives. A statement he made during the interview was redacted from the publicly released report.

Rojas, who is identified in the report as a construction worker who is homeless, is charged with felony criminal mischief involving a memorial or historic property.

Jail records show he was already out on felony bond in a separate case involving charges of battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer without violence.

As of Friday morning, Rojas was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $2,500 bond.

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