Police arrest man accused of vandalizing Miami bagel shop; he’s facing hate crime charge

MIAMI – Police announced the arrest Tuesday of a man who they say vandalized a bagel shop in Miami last month.

According to an arrest affidavit from the Miami Police Department, 28-year-old Kenneth Guerrera is facing one count of criminal mischief with prejudice, a hate crime enhancement.

Josh Nodel, the owner of Holy Bagels & Pizzeria, located at 93 NW First St., told Local 10 News that one of his shops was targeted around 4:45 a.m. on June 14.

Numerous volunteers came to clean up the graffiti that read, “Free Palestine End Genocide.”

Surveillance video obtained by Local 10 News showed Guerrera spray painting the message on the shop’s front windows, according to police.

An affidavit stated that Guerrera was also seen ripping down an Israeli flag that was hung above the entrance of the restaurant.

Police said he then proceeded to spray-paint the flag on the ground.

An officer in the area said she identified Guerrera through a Miami police wanted flyer and surveillance video.

After being taken into custody, police said Guerrera agreed to speak with detectives without an attorney, but his full confession was redacted in the publicly released report.

“It’s unbelievable,” Nodel told Local 10 News last month. “It’s an act of violence against the Jewish nation and an act of violence against the law of Florida.”

Nodel reported another incident back in December at Bagel Time Cafe, located at 3915 Alton Road, which had Israeli and American flags vandalized by different suspects since war broke out in the Middle East.

Police arrested another suspect in one of the incidents.

Local 10 News has requested Guerrera’s mugshot after he was not listed as an inmate on Miami-Dade Corrections’ website as of Tuesday evening.

Miami Police Chief Manny Morales released a statement following Guerrera’s arrest which you can read below.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.