Search For Man Who Robbed And Abducted Woman At Kendall Campus Continues
Nearly two months after police say a student was robbed at gunpoint and temporarily abducted from a Kendall Campus parking garage, the Miami-Dade Police Department Robbery Bureau is still investigating and has yet to find the suspect.
Police said Samantha Valdes, 19, was entering her car in parking garage L, which is located on the Campus’ northwest corner, at 10:30 a.m. on April 28 when the suspect entered her car wielding a gun.
Valdes was not hurt during the incident but police said the suspect demanded that she withdraw money from an ATM at Chase Bank on South Dixie Highway and SW 128 St., four miles from Kendall Campus. After receiving the money, the abductor demanded that Valdes drop him back off on campus.
“What happened after the incident was that the student left the campus and called the police station,” MDPD Detective Romelio Martinez said. “What she described was in fact an armed robbery.”
The college sent a warning alert email to students the following day that read:
“Safety and security on Miami Dade College Campuses is a top priority and something in which the entire college community participates. Vigilance and communications are always paramount. The purpose of this notice is to inform the College community about unsolved incidents on or near campuses. While these notices are primarily an attempt to increase public awareness, they also serve to keep the college community informed. On April [28], a kidnapping and robbery reportedly commencing at the Kendall Campus and unfolding off campus was reported to county law enforcement authorities. The Miami-Dade Police Department continues investigating. No injuries were reported. As with all incidents, we ask the college community to report any suspicious activity to public safety. Any updates will be provided as they become available.”
College officials said the crime is an isolated incident but they urged students to be vigilant of their surroundings.
“Safety and security on Miami Dade College Campuses are a top priority at MDC,” said Juan Mendieta, the College Director of Communications. “Given the high volume of students and activities at MDC, the college has very safe campuses. The incident in question is part of an ongoing investigation and there is not much on which we can comment.”
Kendall Campus public relations major Dominique Woodburn, 18, said the news of the abduction has made her fearful.
“I think it’s scary because I go to this school and the fact that something like that could happen on campus is scary,” Woodburn said. “Also, not everyone checks their emails so maybe the emails aren’t the right way to inform everyone on campus.”
There are no surveillance cameras in the four-story Kendall Campus parking garage where the incident occurred and in other parking areas on Kendall Campus.
“That idea has been tossed around a couple times but I don’t know where it stands,” said Carlos Tinoco, Interim Chief of Public Safety at Kendall Campus.
Virgil Capote, 20, a political science major at Kendall Campus was a student of Humanities professor Marc Magellan who was attacked in the same structure in April 2014.
“At the end of the day you can blame it for the same reason—that there was a lack of cameras,” Capote said. “The school should realize that you are unable to foster education unless your students feel secure.”
Miami Dade Police released a composite sketch of the suspect shortly after the incident. He is believed to be between 5’2” and 5’4” and 125 pounds. Valdes told police he had a full beard and was wearing a green and orange baseball cap, a beige long sleeve US Army desert camouflage shirt with faded black cargo pants and a black backpack.
Miami-Dade Police are encouraging anyone with any information to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
