A 26-year-old man was arrested and accused of forcibly stealing the cell phone of a student in a wheelchair at Miami Dade College on Nov. 12, according to a Homestead Police Department report.
Jakaric Antonio Johnson was arrested on Nov. 18—six days after the incident—and charged with strong-arm robbery.
According to the police report, the man who said his phone was stolen was completing an assignment in the library at Homestead Campus on Nov. 12 just before 4 p.m. when Johnson, who he knows as Three, approached him and said: “I’ll be back in 5 min.”
When Johnson returned, he snatched the man’s cell phone, the police report says, and as they wrestled for control of the device, the man fell out of his wheelchair. He was not injured.
A person sitting next to the man told police: “I witnessed the victim get dragged out of his wheelchair and have his cell phone stolen.”
The man then yelled for help and a library employee called public safety who contacted the Homestead Police Department.
Johnson fled the area by foot.
Six days later, Johnson was seen on campus attending a class; he was arrested shortly after in the school’s east parking lot.
When he was taken into custody, Johnson denied stealing the man’s cell phone. He said the man gave him the phone because he owed him money, according to the police report.
Homestead Campus Interim President, Beverly Moore-García, said she was unable to share if any disciplinary action had been taken by campus administration against Johnson, but she confirmed that he’s not enrolled for the spring semester.
“Our priority is always that students are safe and feel safe,” Moore-García said. “We want to make sure that people come to aid and that we address the situation quickly, and with appropriateness.”
To report any public safety issues at Homestead Campus, call (305) 237-5100.
Editor-in-Chief Yazid Guelida contributed to this story.
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