Firefighter Allegedly Attacked Elderly Man Who Parked "Too Close"
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A Miami firefighter was arrested following an apparent road rage incident where he allegedly beat a 71-year-old man.
Reynaldo Luis Miranda, 47, is facing charges of aggravated battery of an elderly person and burglary with battery.
In bond court Wednesday he told the judge the allegations against him are only one side of the story.
"I have a perfect record at work and a perfect record on the streets, ma'am," said Miranda. "I've never been arrested. I've never done anything wrong."
According to police, Miranda struck James Walton, 71, in the face while the victim was still sitting inside his truck.
An arrest affidavit states Miranda was with a friend parked in a parking at Southland Mall Tuesday when the victim pulled up and parked next to them.
Miranda, the report says, became upset because that the victim parked "too close" to his car and began yelling at him. After a brief exchange of words, the victim says Miranda made a phone call and left the parking lot.
As the victim left the mall, he saw Miranda's car ahead of him. Miranda, according to the report, stopped his car abruptly, got out of the car, walked up to the 71-year-old man's car, and started beating the man who was seated in the driver's seat.
As Miranda was hitting the victim, an officer arrived, calling for assistance and Miranda was detained.
A witness told police that she saw "three hard hits."
The victim was treated on the scene for a laceration above his left eye. The victims wife says he had to get stitches and is doing ok.
Miranda's neighbors tell CBS4 he is a family man and the accusations against him are completely out of character.
"He's not the kinds guy I would ever picture doing something like that," said Pat Coffey. "He would have to be provoked to do anything like that."
A judge set Miranda's bond at ¥10,000, ordered house arrest and ordered that he stay away from the victim.
Miranda bonded out of jail Wednesday night.
