MIAMI – A 25-year-old man was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center this week, months after he allegedly stole a car parked at the University of Miami Hospital that had an 11-year-old girl inside.
Armando Moyyad faces charges of kidnapping, burglary, child abuse and petit theft.
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The incident happened Aug. 7, 2021, outside the hospital at 1120 NW 14th St. where the victim’s father was working.
According to the suspect’s arrest warrant, the victim’s father was cleaning the fountains on the hospital’s property as his wife and their daughter were waiting in their car for him with the ignition on.
Miami police said the man asked his wife to bring him a brush from the car.
A couple of minutes later, Moyyad jumped into the driver’s seat and sped off with the girl still sitting in the backseat, authorities said.
The girl’s parents immediately began chasing after the vehicle before flagging down an officer.
According to the arrest warrant, the girl asked the defendant, “Who are you? Where are we going?” and then started to scream, “Let me go!”
“Oh s***,” Moyyad responded, according to the warrant.
Police said Moyyad continued driving for a few blocks before pulling over on Northwest 16th Street.
Authorities said he went through the mother’s purse as the girl tried to call her mom.
Moyyad snatched the girl’s phone away after it started ringing, authorities said.
According to police, Moyyad later used some of the stolen debit and credit cards to make three separate purchases at a Chik-Fil-A on North River Drive.
Police said the girl identified Moyyad in a six-photo lineup on Aug. 18.
Later that day, authorities discovered that Moyyad was being held in Palm Beach County in connection with a separate burglary and vehicle theft.
He was transferred to Miami on Monday to face the latest charges against him.