AVENTURA, Fla. – An Aventura man is facing two criminal charges after police accused him of stalking a former condominium board opponent and brandishing weapons amid a months-long dispute.
Moises Mitrani, 73, is facing charges of stalking and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon following his arrest on Tuesday.
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According to an arrest report, Mitrani had been running against the victim for director on the board at Harborside Condominiums at 3640 Yacht Club Drive. Police said he eventually dropped out of the race and the victim won re-election.
Police said between March 5 and May 26, Mitrani left 10 threatening voicemails, sent roughly 500 text messages and made 40 to 50 calls to the victim’s cellphone, despite pleas for him to stop.
Mitrani’s “actions and behavior have caused the victim to be in fear for his safety and has caused emotional stress on him,” the police report states.
“It should be noted, that approximately three months ago, the defendant (Mitrani) showed up to the lobby of the condominium where he began yelling and screaming asking security to call the victim to come down from his apartment,” the investigating officer wrote. “(Moments) later, the defendant went to his vehicle and returned with a handgun, (waving) it at the employees then placing it on the security counter.”
Additionally, police said an “aggressive” Mitrani walked into the lobby last Thursday, demanded that the victim come and speak with him, and then “produced a large knife which he had in a book under his left arm.”
The report states that Mitrani pointed the knife towards the building’s security guard and said “he had something” for the victim.
It states the security guard felt “scared and threatened” and told Mitrani she was calling the police. Police said he then put the knife back in the book and walked out the door.
Police said the victim got a protection order from a Miami-Dade judge the same day.
Following his arrest Tuesday on a felony aggravated stalking charge and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, Mitrani faced Miami-Dade Judge Mindy Glazer Wednesday, who ordered he be held on a $3,500 bond.
She found probable cause to charge Mitrani with only one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and a lesser, misdemeanor stalking charge.
“This is a ‘come to God’ moment for him,” Mitrani’s son, a lawyer, said over the phone during the court appearance.
Glazer ordered Mitrani to stay away from the victim. He told her he no longer lives at the condo building.