Prowlers Arrested on Ventura Ave
Utopia residents enjoy one of the safest neighborhoods in Miami because of a visible and proactive patrol by City of Miami off-duty policemen contracted by the Utopia HOA.
The following is an excerpt from an email received by the Utopia Security Liaison from Sgt Abad reporting on activities during his security patrol on Feb 5, 2014:
Mr. Fernandez FYI tonight at 11:30 PM I initiated a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle traveling east on Ventura from Lejeune crossing the park and heading to Braganza. At Poinciana and Braganza the vehicle attempted to black out and conceal itself at which point I initiated a traffic stop. The vehicle tag was expired and the individuals were dressed in all black. The driver was arrested and the passenger was released. Both subjects came back with prior robbery and burglary arrests.
We encourage our members to spread the word about how our security association is thwarting crime and ask every homeowner to join the security association so we can afford increased hours of police protection.
According to Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, in his recent District 2 Newsletter, the police are targeting gang-related violent crime in Coconut Grove with a new police substation located close to Utopia at the intersection of Douglas and Grand avenues.
In July 2013, I brought forward the idea of a supporting base of operations for the police in Coconut Grove to City of Miami Police Chief Manuel Orosa and newly-appointed Commander Manuel Morales. They both agreed with and supported the idea as a direct way of fighting criminal activity in a high-crime area where gang violence had emerged as a serious threat to the safety of Coconut Grove citizens. These citizens supported the station as a definable place for community outreach, where residents and businesses can connect with police services. The community also supported the idea in response to a spike in crime.
We are lucky to have such a proactive city commissioner supporting our call for improved safety. We should also be aware and vigilant about expanding our own patrols as gangs are notorious for striking out when law enforcement starts a dragnet operation in their “territory”. It is very possible that we may witness an increase in gang-related violent crime and crimes against property as the new police station forms a base of operations in their backyard. Please encourage your neighbors to join our homeowner’s security association and consider making a supplemental monthly or annual voluntary contribution for increased police patrols.
Grand Opening of Police Station in Coconut Grove
Because of your tremendous efforts last year, we are now on the brink of launching a new era prioritizing public safety and crime prevention for Coconut Grove with the historic grand opening of the new Coconut Grove Police Substation on the corner of Douglas Road (SW 37th Ave) and Grand Avenue in the heart of the West Grove.
With thanks again to Commissioner Marc Sarnoff and the City of Miami Commission, Miami Police Chief Manuel Orosa and the financial support of the Sarnoff Foundation and County Commissioner Xavier Suarez, the Coconut Grove Police substation is set to open its doors for the first time with a grand opening celebration on Saturday, February 8th at 10:30am in front of the new substation at 3727 Grand Avenue.
Scores of us celebrated the announcement of the Grove police substation and what it signals for Coconut Grove. Nothing will indeed send a stronger message that you support the police substation, than joining us for what promises to be a huge contingent of Grove residents at the Grand Opening festivities on Saturday, February 8th.
Please save the date, mark your schedules and do your best to be there with your family, friends and fellow neighbors for the ribbon cutting and festivities and help spread the word!
Saturday, February 8th at 10:30am
3727 Grand Avenue
Coconut Grove, FL 33133
Complimentary food and drinks will be provided.
Good News for South Grove
The following is an excerpt from an email received from Fernand R. Amandi who has spearheaded the efforts to improve police services in Coconut Grove:
As a result of our continued efforts to prioritize public safety we have been successful in securing unanimous City Commission approval for a new and permanent police substation in the heart of the West Grove. This is an historic development, as the Grove has never before had a single-use, stand-alone police substation. The decision to create the police substation is a direct sign of the commitment from the City to address our concerns.
We have been diligently working on this proposal over the last eight weeks and with the help of City Officials, County Commissioner Xavier Suarez and City of Miami Police Chief Manuel Orosa were able to make the Grove police substation a reality.
Special thanks must be given to City Commissioner Marc Sarnoff who immediately championed our initiative, secured the location and went so far as to provide the necessary start-up funding from the Sarnoff Foundation. This facility would never have come into being without the support and follow through of Commissioner Sarnoff and his staff.
The police substation will be located on the northwest corner of Grand and Douglas at 3727 Grand Avenue and it is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2014. I hope that everyone will join in the grand opening festivities, with more information to follow in the coming weeks.
Narcotics Arrests in West Village
FROM: Cmdr. Manuel Morales, Miami Police Department
In response to several recent incidents in the Village West, we have increased our narcotics enforcement efforts in the area.
On Wednesday, November 27th at 2PM our Narcotics Units along with our SWAT Team executed two search warrants of homes suspected of selling drugs.
The warrants were served in the 3400 block of Day Ave and the 3500 block of Plaza St.
The operation not only led to the successful apprehension of two criminals wanted for the sale of narcotics, but more importantly it removed a firearm and illegal drugs from our streets.
Today’s operation serves as an example that the Miami Police and the residents of the Grove will not tolerate crime and will not allow those who affect our quality of life to seek refuge behind close doors. We will continue to combat crime to make Coconut Grove a safer place to live and play.