Doral vice mayor wants in-depth review of Prieto’s work over link to Surfside tragedy

DORAL, Fla. – Doral’s vice mayor announced Tuesday that he wants a more in-depth review of the work by the former city’s top building official after he was linked to the Surfside building collapse.

Vice Mayor Doral Pete Cabrera is asking for “a revision of everything having to do” with Prieto and he is calling a special council meeting to ask for a review of “everything that has passed through the hands” of CAP Government, Inc., formerly CAP Engineering Consultants.

Doral officials said Prieto Rosendo “Ross” Prieto, 54, was an employee of the Coral Gables-based company that provides services to local governments.

Prieto was the former top building official for the town of Surfside who didn’t alert Champlain Towers South Condominium Association of the dangers in the building. He allegedly failed to do so even after a 2018 engineer’s report that was full of red flags.

Prieto joined Surfside in 2013 and left in November. He started working in Doral in May as the interim building official. Edie Ousley, a spokeswoman for CAP Government, said Tuesday afternoon, Prieto only worked in Doral for roughly 30 days and was on a leave of absence.

“He was actually out for a rather lengthy period of time,” Ousley said, adding Prieto’s actions in Doral were limited to him reviewing five permit applications. “He did not personally issue any permits.”

Ousley added the city of Doral has already done a review of Prieto’s work. Cabrera wants further action and is awaiting a response from the city manager Tuesday afternoon.

“It would be irresponsible of me not to verify any project that has passed through the hands of this ex-employee in our city,” Cabrera said in a statement.

Prieto also listed experience as an inspector at the cities of Hialeah, Miami Shores, Miami Beach, and Miami.

The New York Times linked Prieto to the 1997 Biscayne Kennel Club in Miami Shores and to a history of troubled personal finances. The Wall Street Journal linked Prieto to penthouses at the Champlain Towers South that violated the town’s code.

The Champlain Towers South partially collapsed on June 24. Engineers demolished the ruins on Sunday, as rescue teams continue to find residents’ bodies. The official death toll was 32 on Tuesday.

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July 1

• Miami River condo owners paying nearly $1 mil to fix concrete erosion
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June 30

• Miami-Dade building audit leading to dozens of buildings getting tagged for repairs
• Condominium law experts say tragedy will prompt more accountability

June 29

• Miami-Dade building audit already spotting issues
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June 28: Residential property audit announced by Miami-Dade mayor already underway

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COMPLETE COVERAGE

Surfside building collapse

• HOW TO HELP: Here’s a list of resources to support those impacted by building collapse
• More about the victims identified
• Photos: Loved ones name those they say are missing
• Photos: Search-and-rescue teams in action
• Hotline and wellness form for residents and families

The timeline of a tragedy

Coverage of July 5

• Additional 3 bodies recovered overnight in Surfside, bringing death toll to 27
• Tale of rescue after falling several floors in Surfside collapse
• Identifying the remains a burdensome task in condo collapse
• Condo demolition opens up fresh rubble in collapse search
• Mayor: Crews did everything possible to find missing pets

Coverage on July 4

• Demolition at site of Surfside building collapse could happen before Tropical Storm Elsa’s impact
• Surfside building collapse: Engineers prepare for demolition; search for 121 suspended
• Israeli Col. Golan Vach no longer believes there are Surfside building collapse survivors under rubble
• Surfside responds to issue of delayed building repairs
• Miami Beach residents, first responders shine light to honor Surfside victims

Coverage on July 3

• Crews on lookout for pets in Florida condo building collapse
• Remaining structure at Surfside building collapse site will be demolished
• Surfside search suspended as crew prepares for the demolition of the remainder of the building
• Demolition preparations begin at condo with storm looming

Coverage on July 2

• Miami firefighter’s daughter killed in Surfside building collapse identified as Stella Cattarossi
• Search-and-rescue team at Surfside building collapse site finds firefighter’s daughter dead
• North Miami Beach condo ordered shut, 300 residents need to leave immediately, city says
• Surfside police officers speak about initial moments after responding to collapse
• Biden has busy day following visit to Surfside

Coverage on July 1

• Biden in Surfside: We’ll ‘pick up 100% of the cost’
• ‘Waiting is unbearable’: Biden consoles Surfside families
• Death toll rises to 18 in Surfside, rescue crews pause operations due to safety concerns relating to standing structure
• Photographer, daughter and three other family members all missing in collapse
• Video shows grim reality of what rescuers are seeing at Surfside collapse site
• Safety concerns halt rescue efforts at condo collapse site
• Dispatch calls: ‘She’s stuck in between 2 beds,’ but responders couldn’t get to Surfside victim

Coverage on June 30

• Beloved ‘Dos Elenas’ legacy after Surfside tragedy will be legal reform
• Family of 4 confirmed to be among victims of Surfside building collapse
• Death toll rises in Surfside; more than 140 unaccounted for
• Rubble from Surfside condo brought to grassy field in Golden Glades’
• Ex-official who said Surfside condo was sound leaves new job
• Nonstop search efforts at Surfside building collapse site can take its toll on rescue workers
• Missing woman made phone call to her husband as Surfside condo collapsed
• Mother of North Bay Village police chief confirmed dead following Surfside collapse
• Remarkable stories of Surfside condo residents who survived by chance
• Family of missing woman files wrongful death lawsuit against Champlain Towers South Condo Association

Coverage on June 29

• ‘Something inside me said run’: Surfside survivor describes escaping as building came down
• Surfside resident lucky to be alive after spending night with girlfriend
• Champlain condo associations try to appease sister towers residents, speed up repairs
• Condominium law experts say tragedy will prompt more accountability
• Miami-Dade building audit already spotting issues
• Army of volunteers showers first responders with food, water
• Rescuers battle obstacles during their search in Surfside
• Recently married lawyer and husband missing in collapse
• Renowned civil engineer hired to investigate
• Families of Surfside victims keep hope alive by visiting condo and unifying in Bal Harbour
• Prosecutors will ask grand jury to probe building collapse
• ‘Our backyard’: Tragedy strikes home for Miami-Dade rescuers
• Biden to visit Florida building collapse on Thursday
• In collapsed building’s twin, most residents are staying put
• Surfside realtor says deadly building collapse ‘hasn’t slowed down the demand’ on beachside condos
• Beachside vigil held for victims and families of Surfside building collapse

Coverage on June 28

• Another body pulled from rubble in Surfside, bringing the total confirmed dead to 10
• Residential property audit announced by Miami-Dade mayor already underway
• Buses take loved ones of missing Surfside residents to collapse site
• 8 victims now identified following Surfside building collapse
• 88-year-old Surfside condo survivor remembers those who helped her to safety
• ‘Don’t give up hope,’ local leaders tell families of Surfside missing
• Watch out for Surfside charity scams and price gouging
• Despite warning, town deemed condo building in ‘good shape’
• Mayor: Child alone outside collapse site brings tragedy home
• Who are they? Stories of the victims of Surfside collapse
• What caused Surfside collapse? Engineer offers insight
• ‘I will miss you all my life:’ Father pens beautiful note to late son who died in the Surfside condo collapse
• Memorials grow in Surfside as desperate search for victims continues into fifth day
• Surfside collapse is ‘wake-up call,’ DeSantis says as questions remain about cause of devastating collapse

Coverage on June 27

• State fire marshal provides insight into efforts to locate victims while fighting fire
• Team of national scientists to visit Surfside collapse site
• Teams use sonar devices, lasers to aid in Surfside rescue
• Several families belonging to Miami Beach church remain missing, parishioners gather to pray and hope
• Neighboring residents express concern as investigation into Champlain Towers South collapse continues
• Buses take loved ones of missing Surfside residents to collapse site
• Remembering the dead and missing
• Search-and-rescue teams tunnel through pancaked concrete 3 days after building collapse

Coverage on June 26

• Relative of Surfside building collapse victim lashes out at DeSantis for not ‘doing enough’
• Surfside building collapse: Four out of 5 dead identified; 156 remain unaccounted for
• Missing grandparents’ landline calling from Champlain Towers South condo, family says
• Surfside tower had ‘major structural damage’ — but enough to cause a collapse?
• North Bay Village police chief’s mother has been unaccounted for since Surfside building collapse
• ‘The hope is that there are going to be miracles,’ relative of Surfside building collapse victims says
• Fire burning beneath rubble of collapsed Surfside condo hindering rescue efforts
• Surfside building collapse first responders having difficulty locating victims in massive debris pile
• Miami-Dade Mayor: ‘I’m hopeful this will be the day we have a breakthrough’
• Surfside mayor expresses concern over Champlain South’s identical sister building
• Traffic changes in Surfside area as rescue efforts continue following deadly building collapse

Coverage on June 25

• Champlain Towers South resident survives by climbing through rubble in the dark with her dog
• Teen identified after being pulled from rubble in Surfside, family confirms mother is among those dead
• Man who lives in condo looks out, tells wife ‘My parents’ apartment isn’t there’
• Surfside collapse: Family reunification center moving from community space to hotel
• First lawsuit filed after partial building collapse in Surfside
• Smoke billows out from Champlain Towers South collapse site
• Surfside officials discuss aftermath of building collapse: ‘Terrible tragedy’ to change recertification
• Israel sends help to Surfside’s Jewish community
• Amid anguish after building collapse, memorial, prayer circle help some cope with Surfside tragedy

Coverage on June 24

• Officials fear there will be many casualties after Surfside building ‘pancaked’ during collapse
• Surveillance video captures eerie moments as part of Surfside condo crashes down
• Man says all he saw was ‘white clouds of dust’
• Father remains missing; wife and daughter hospitalized after Surfside building collapse
• Surfside condo that collapsed was going through a recertification process
• After Surfside collapse do you need to worry about your building?
• Officials fear there will be many casualties after Surfside building ‘pancaked’ during collapse
• Geologist warned of instability in Surfside