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Weapons Cache Uncovered During Miami Beach Disturbance Call

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MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) - A Miami Beach man is facing a number of charges after police found his weapons cache during a disturbance call.

Jaime Gonzalez
Jaime Gonzalez (Source: Miami-Dade Corrections)

Police were called to an apartment complex on Island Avenue where after a tenant called and complained that another tenant, 38-year-old Jaime Gonzalez, had attacked her and was threatening to kill her and others.

Police say Gonzalez was acting strangely when the officers arrived and threatened them as well. He was taken into custody on an involuntary mental health hold/evaluation under the Baker Act.

Miami Beach Weapons Cache
Cache of weapons found in apartment of Jaime Gonzalez on Miami Beach. (Courtesy: Miami Beach Police Department)

Inside Gonzalez's residence, police found more than 20 guns including six rifles, three shotguns, 11 pistols, and more than a thousand rounds of ammunition.

Many of the guns were illegal to own.

One of the pistols turned out to be stolen and one of the shotguns had an illegal short barrel.

Now officers believe they may have stopped a tragedy from occurring. Miami Beach Police said Gonzalez said he wanted to kill several people.

"Along with those 20 weapons was a stolen firearm from a vehicle here on Miami Beach several years ago," said Ernesto Rodriguez with Miami Beach Police.

The woman who called the police told them that Gonzalez had raped her several days earlier and that he had threatened her.

Gonzalez has been charged with false imprisonment, sexual battery, battery, theft, and possession of a short barrel shotgun.

"If you see something say something.  Starting with the building manager.  She heard an argument.  She could have easily dismissed it and we could be having a different story today," said Rodriguez.

Gun legislation being passed in Tallahassee Tuesday would have had little effect on this case.  The reality is many of Gonzalez's weapons were illegal to begin with.

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