MIAMI – Miami police arrested a suspect Monday morning after he allegedly attacked his elderly neighbor at a bus stop in Shenandoah, leaving the victim hospitalized, authorities confirmed Tuesday.
According to an arrest report from the MPD, Yendry Sanchez, 45, is facing one count of aggravated battery on a person 65 years or older.
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The incident took place around 10 a.m. near the 900 block of Southwest 22nd Avenue., where police and first responders found the elderly victim, visibly injured and in distress.
Miami police said officers were initially dispatched to the scene after a 911 call reported an attack on an older man.
Authorities said Miami Fire Rescue personnel were already on-site, attending to the victim’s injuries when they arrived.
According to Sanchez’s arrest report, the victim had two lacerations on his forehead and a deep cut on his swollen lower lip. Fire Rescue later transported him to HCA Florida Mercy Hospital for further treatment.
The initial witness to the attack told officers that he was driving southbound on Southwest 22nd Avenue when he noticed Sanchez repeatedly punch and kick the defenseless, elderly man, who was seated at a bus stop bench, the report stated.
In an attempt to halt the attack, police said the witness exited his vehicle and yelled at Sanchez, who immediately fled southbound on foot toward Southwest Ninth Street.
Authorities said the witness then called emergency services after Sanchez fled and provided police with a description of the suspect.
As officers gathered additional information, Miami police officers located surveillance footage from a nearby business.
Detectives said the CCTV footage showed the elderly man arriving at the bus stop and sitting down. Just moments later, Sanchez appeared on screen, following closely behind the victim, according to investigators.
Without provocation or warning, police said Sanchez swung his right arm and struck the victim with a closed fist to the head. The video footage continued to show Sanchez delivering a second punch to the victim’s face, causing him to slump forward on the bench, authorities said.
The attack escalated as Sanchez kicked the elderly man in the head before fleeing the area on foot, according to the report. Police said Sanchez, who was wearing black sunglasses, a black T-shirt, black shorts, and black sneakers with white soles at the time of the incident, was clearly identifiable in the surveillance footage.
While conducting surveillance in a nearby parking lot, police said they spotted Sanchez walking westbound toward his apartment building near the 2200 block of Southwest Ninth Street.
Authorities confirmed he was still dressed in the same outfit as seen in the surveillance video. Officers said they quickly detained Sanchez before he could enter the apartment complex.
After reading Sanchez his Miranda rights in English, police noted that Sanchez waived his rights and agreed to provide a statement, though details of his statement were redacted in the publicly released report.
During a subsequent interview with the elderly victim at the hospital, the man described an unsettling encounter with Sanchez earlier that morning.
He said that as he was leaving their shared apartment building, Sanchez grew agitated when he was unable to enter the building, the report stated.
The victim reported that Sanchez kicked the door and shouted at him, though he chose to ignore the outburst and continued on his way. The last thing he remembered was sitting down at the bus stop and being struck unexpectedly by Sanchez, authorities confirmed.
Police have not disclosed any information on the victim’s age or condition.
Jail records show Sanchez is being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where his bond was listed as “to be set” as of Tuesday afternoon.
Local 10 News has requested surveillance video of the alleged attack.