Authorities: a 24-year-old Man in Sunny Isles Beach Assaulted a 10-year-old Girl

Authorities a 24-year-old Man in Sunny Isles Beach Assaulted a 10-year-old Girl
Image Via: WPLG

A 24-year-old male was recently taken into custody by police on suspicion of committing a crime after he allegedly ran into a 10-year-old girl and her 12-year-old sister in an elevator at a Sunny Isles Beach condominium building.

The girls said that because the man had not spoken to them in English, they had not understood what he had said when they came home. However, they also claimed that the man had crossed enough lines when he talked with the youngest that their father had called the police.

Officer Michael Barilari arrived, looked over the building’s security footage, recognized the man as maintenance worker Kevin Mejia, and asked him some questions. Barilari questioned him about why he gave the 10-year-old child a “kissing gesture” and displayed his phone to her.

According to Barilari’s account, Mejia “said he did show her the phone for translation.”

Barilari further stated that Mejia was unreliable during his investigation, and the maintenance supervisor of his condominium building expressed his belief that there were no legitimate business grounds for him to exit the elevator and pursue the girls.

Mejia claimed that when she winked at him, he understood that she was interested in speaking with him. The victim extended her hand to him, he said as he left the elevator to carry on their conversation, according to Barilari.

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Mejia was taken into custody on Wednesday after Barilari determined that his acts were “intentional and physical which consisted of child abuse.” Mejia was booked by Miami-Dade correctional officers just before nine o’clock at night, according to records, and he was kept at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on Thursday.

Mejia was accused of abusing children without causing serious physical harm. Detectives urged anyone with information to contact Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477 regarding this or any other case.

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With more than two years of expertise in news and analysis, Eileen Stewart is a seasoned reporter. Eileen is a respected voice in this field, well-known for her sharp reporting and insightful analysis. Her writing covers a wide range of subjects, from politics to culture and more.