During a routine patrol at 8:56 a.m. Saturday, Miami Springs police observed Jandier Arrieta, 31, of Hialeah, "picking up rocks from the ground and throwing them at the City of Miami Springs welcome sign," according to an arrest report (embedded at the end of this article).
The 1500 block of North Royal Poinciana Boulevard is near a railroad crossing locals use to walk across the canal to the Okeechobee Metrorail station.
The officer hit his lights and siren and gave chase.
"As he ran, [Arrieta] reached into his pocket and pulled out two large metal train track spikes, which he threw at the [occupied] patrol vehicle," shattering the rear passenger-side window and denting the door, according to the arrest affidavit. Arrieta then turned back toward the train station and jumped into the Miami River, "swimming northbound toward the City of Hialeah."
Signs dotting the river banks warn: "Beware of alligators."
More than a dozen police officers from Virginia Gardens, Medley, Hialeah, and Miami Springs joined in and closed roads abutting the river, which runs along Okeechobee Road. A Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office helicopter provided aerial support.
Arrieta was spotted near the Hialeah river bank at W. Eighth Avenue and Okeechobee Road.
"The defendant had a tense posture, gripping a large rock in each hand, then forcefully threw the rock in his right hand toward the direction of [Miami Springs police] Sgt. J. Castillo," the arrest report reads. "The rock did not strike J. Castillo."
Arrieta then dove back into the river and swam southward, with a johnboat in pursuit. According to the affidavit, the suspect exited the river again, this time at Hammond Drive and North Royal Poinciana Boulevard, again holding a rock.
When he failed to comply with the officers' demands that he drop the rock, they "deployed K-9 Mando, who successfully apprehended the defendant," according to the report. But Arrieta wasn't done.
Miami Springs K-9 Mando, in repose
Miami Springs Police Department photo/Facebook
Reached by New Times, Miami Springs Police Chief Matthew Castillo described Arrieta's apprehension as "a team effort. We received valuable support from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit, with helicopter pilot John Dweck, a Miami Springs native," Castillo says. "Former Miami Springs Chief Pete Baan also assisted by providing his boat, allowing us to negotiate with the individual to reach land. Additionally, I want to extend my gratitude to the Hialeah, Medley, and Virginia Gardens police departments for their assistance."
Castillo was appointed as chief in January and later told the Miami Herald that his department has "zero tolerance for crime" [subscription required].
Police say Arrieta was transported to Jackson West Hospital for a medical evaluation and taken to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. He is charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, throwing a deadly missile, battery on a police officer, criminal mischief exceeding $1,000, criminal mischief between $200 and $1,000, and resisting arrest with violence. A bond hearing is scheduled for Sunday.
According to the Miami-Dade County courts database, Arrieta's criminal record includes a 2019 arrest for assault with a deadly weapon and two arrests in 2024, one for trespassing, the other for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The arrest occurred as Boy Scouts were nearby, launching canoes for a springtime "Waterway Cleanup" wherein they competed to earn prizes for "most unusual item" and "biggest piece of trash" pulled from the water.
