Man arrested at JD Vance checkpoint in Miami faces ICE hold
A 29-year-old man was arrested and placed under an immigration detainer after allegedly attempting to breach a security checkpoint established for Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Miami Beach on Wednesday. Tobias Gonzalez Garcia remains in custody at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where jail records confirm a hold has been placed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The incident occurred around 3:20 p.m. on the Venetian Causeway near the San Marco Island Bridge. According to the arrest report, law enforcement officers and Secret Service agents had secured the area to facilitate the Vice President’s motorcade for a private event. Police say Gonzalez Garcia approached the blockade on an electric bicycle and ignored audible commands to halt.
Authorities allege that despite making eye contact with an officer who ordered him to stop, Gonzalez Garcia continued riding. The report states he attempted to maneuver around a K-9 sweep and another officer who signaled him to stop. He subsequently lost control of the bicycle, fell, and fled on foot across the bridge before being apprehended by officers.
Gonzalez Garcia was charged with resisting an officer without violence and failure to obey police commands. Following the arrest, he received treatment from Miami Fire Rescue for scrapes on his knees and a knuckle, as well as reported pain in his left forearm.
The security measures were part of a broader operation for Vice President Vance’s trip, which resulted in road closures and heavy traffic throughout Miami and Miami Beach. Police emphasized that the checkpoints were clearly marked and staffed to ensure the safety of the dignitary and the public. As of Thursday, Gonzalez Garcia remained detained pending the resolution of the local charges and the immigration hold.
miamiherald.com
