A drug bust in the Richmond Heights area won a special citation for Officer Justin Anglin as the Miami-Dade Police Department Kendall District’s Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) “Officer of the Month” for September.
The award was presented to Anglin at the CAC’s Oct. 27 session by chair Barry White who said a commendation letter by Maj. Michael Herrera, commander of Kendall District, credited Anglin’s “performance, dedication, and commitment” to the police and community he served.
In February, Anglin, along with other officers, arrested an individual for possession of narcotics that led to a Narcotics Bureau operational plan when the informant purchased $1,400 of cocaine from a known Richmond Heights-Perrine area dealer.
On July 30, Anglin together with fellow officer Michael Garcia joined the Narcotics team to stake out a pre-arranged drug transaction that went awry when the subjects involved rammed a narcotics detective’s vehicle and began an escape.
Alert teamwork by Officers Anglin and Garcia apprehended the subjects as they attempted to destroy the drug evidence. which was recovered by the two officers and later impounded.
The identified dealer and a second subject were each arrested on four counts of drugrelated charges, including aggravated battery with a motor vehicle on a law enforcement officer.
“Due to your tenacity, teamwork, and attention to duty, two dangerous felons were taken off the streets,” White said. “It’s an example of the dedication that law enforcement has to making our community safe for its residents.”
HAMMOCKS DISTRICT POLICE OFFICERS FOIL ARMED ROBBERY
Five officers of the Miami-Dade Police Hammocks District were honored on Oct. 27 with special citations for their teamwork in apprehending an armed robbery subject.
Named as Officers of the Month for September were Det. Rajesh Maharaj, plus Officers Enrique Noriega, Franz Vargas, Giovanni Rodriguez and Osmel Cordero.
On Aug. 18, Vargas answered an armed robbery complaint in the 11900 block of SW 181st Street, learning that a masked individual had accosted Matthew Martin who surrendered his cellular phone before the subject ran to a waiting car and fled the scene.
Officeres Cordero and Noriego as a twoman unit heard the all-points bulletin while patrolling a South Miami Heights area and observed the escapees in the identified vehicle at Quail Roost Drive and SW 115th Avenue. Together with Officer Rodriguez in a second patrol car, the three officers made a felony traffic stop, contacted Det. Maharaj and, with identification of the suspects, arrested both for the armed robbery attempt for which they later confessed.
The property taken from Martin and the gun used in the crime were recovered.
“Their quick response and teamwork led to the arrest of robbery subjects and took a gun off the streets,” said CAC chair James Blough, following nominations by Maj. Alexander D. Casas, commander of Hammocks District.
The neverending drug war.