On Tuesday, September 15th, the Coral Gables Police Department announced the arrest of, Richard Anthony Jones, a felony attempted murder and burglary suspect.
CGPD released the following details:
On today’s date, at 12:15 p.m., officers were dispatched to the area of 2525 Ponce De Leon Blvd, after an alert security guard observed a possible subject that was involved in a theft that occurred in August 2020. Officers were able to locate the person described as a male, Black, thin build, short dreads, last seen wearing a blue shirt, black shorts and black slides. A Coral Gables Police Officer observed the described male at the rear of a building in the 100 block of Almeria Ave and with the assistance of other officers, the subject was taken into custody. The subject, later identified as Richard Anthony Jones, DOB 01/13/1996, threatened arresting officers.
Subject Jones was brought to the CGPD station, where detectives linked him to several other cases.
On July 30, 2020, at approximately 2:45 p.m., at a business located in the 100 block of Almeria Ave, Subject Jones entered the building and tricked the victim by stating he was collecting money for a football trip. The victim gave him $10 and offered him a cold soda. Subject Jones grabbed the victim’s wallet from her desk and snatched the soda from the victim as he fled the office. On today’s date, the victim was brought to the CGPD and during a photographic lineup, positively identified the defendant, as the subject who entered her office on July 30, 2020.
Subject Jones was charged with 1 count of Burglary to an Occupied Structure, 1 count of Battery on a Person 65 or Older, 1 count of Petit Theft, and 4 counts of Credit Card Theft.
On September 2, 2020, at approximately 4:36 p.m., at a business located in the 1300 block of South Dixie Highway, Subject Jones entered into the hallway where the victim’s office is located. Using the same ruse about collecting money for a football trip, he asked the victim for money and the victim handed him $20. The victim escorted Subject Jones to the door where he stated that he left his pen in her office. She returned to her office and felt someone standing behind her and as she turned around, Subject Jones with both hands forcefully and intentionally pushed her and she fell to the ground. Subject Jones began to kick her repeatedly to the ribcage area. The victim begged for Subject Jones to stop kicking her as she believed he was going to kill her. Once Subject Jones stopped kicking the victim, he stole her wallet and fled the scene. The victim was transported to the hospital, where she remained hospitalized for over a week.
On today’s date, the victim was brought to the CGPD and during a photographic lineup, positively identified the defendant, as the subject who entered her office on September 2, 2020. Subject Jones was charged with 1 count of Attempted-Felony Murder, 1 count of Burglary with Battery, and 1 count of Grand Theft. Richard Anthony Jones was transferred to the Miami-Dade County Jail.
“We ask the public if you see something, say something, and today it worked. The awareness by the security guard helped bring a violent person into custody,” stated Chief Edward J. Hudak Jr.
The victims gave him $10 and $20? Oh Lord! I never would have considered more than $1 (one) and that is just to get him off my back. My charity is given when I choose.
Crime is crime. So hats off to our officers for doing their jobs well and keeping our community safe. But, why the need to make everything a political issue. Crime has been around since the beginning of time. Is it really necessary to make comments about “leftist” movement and all lives matter to make your point! Let’s move forward, not get stuck in despicable and attacking behaviors… Be the change, don’t be the anger and the fear as you look in the mirror. Last time I checked cops and robbers was a game in Kindergarten. We need to grow up! The officers deserve recognition but we don’t need trash written along with it. Littering is a crime too. And toxic posts are killing our communities. United.
Crime is crime. So hats off to our officers for doing their jobs well and keeping our community safe. But, why the need for to make something that is a part of our daily lives (crime has been around since the beginning of time) now a political issue. Must everything become political? Is it necessary to make comments about “leftist” movement and all lives matter! Let’s move forward, not get stuck in despicable and attacking behaviors… Be the change, don’t be the anger and the fear as you look in the mirror. Last time I checked cops and robbers was a game in Kindergarten. We need to grow up!
Crime is crime. So hast off to our officers for doing their job and keeping our community safe. But, why the need for to make something that is a part of our daily lives (crime has been around since the beginning of time) now a political issue. Must everything become political? It is necessary to comments about “leftist” movement and all lives matter! Let’s move forward, not get stuck in despicable, attacking behaviors… Be the change, don’t be the anger and the fear as you look in the mirror. Just saying. Last time I checked cops and robbers was a game in Kindergarten.
Great job by our Coral Gables Police…Thanks God for our police force and the people of this great city WHO WILL NOT ALLOW THESE DESPICABLE INDIVIDUALS commit crimes like in other cities of our nation !!!!! ALL LIVES MATTER; stop the leftist rethorique !!!!!
Bravissimo Coral Gables police!!! I am very proud of you!!
Thank you CGPD. I support the police!
Not just mugging the victim which is bad enough the act of kicking the victim in the ribs has to mean a prison sentence where this man can ponder the meaning of life with a prison shrink so maybe he can change or maybe not.
Interesting that one of the comments calls for deportation. Even if he is not an American which I doubt why inflict him on another country.
Bravo to Coral Gables Police!
Great job CGPD 👍🏼🙏🏻
Not only should we NOT defund the police, we should increase their pay, for all the heroic work that they do daily!
Not only should we NOT defund the police, we should increase their pay, for all the heroic work that they do daily!
Glad he’s off the streets! Great job by alert security guard, and thank you to CGPD for responding and apprehending! I for one am for “Law and Order!”
When 6% of the population is responsible for 50% of the crimes, it stands out. So happy to have this scum off the streets. I hope he’s put away forever. Attempted murder should hold the same penalty as murder. Just because they failed at their attempt to take someone’s life shouldn’t mean leniency.
May the Lord Bless you and keep you safe all our Police and first responders
a judge (like to know who was the judge), gave this guy a $1 dollar bond for the charges of
“resisting officer without violence” and threatening law enforcement officer or fire fighter”
i guess that is how much respect this judge has for law enforcement.
Deport him? I’d take a wild gander that b/m Richard Anthony Jones was born in America. Maybe we can buy an island somewhere, kind of like Greenland maybe, and deport our criminals there! Perhaps trump can negotiate a deal for us.
I feel very Blessed to live in a city where it’s citizens support our law enforcement!
Our police department does an outstanding job of keeping us safe. In my opinion, they do not get paid enough for the amazing job that they do. The Coral Gables Police Department is most definitely a cut above all the rest. Thank you for being such a great example to other law enforcement departments throughout our nation. Your quick response time can’t be beat! Most importantly, Thank You for always showing respect and professionalism.. even when you pull us aside for a traffic citation 🙂
Waiting for BLM , antifa and other haters to claim that he was falsely accused.
I applaud the CGPD for arresting this criminal but I am very alarmed at the continuous theft going on in North Gables. Everyday I get messages on our Ring alerts with criminals breaking into cars, stealing cars/trucks and stealing packages to name just a few incidents. I think the problem is getting worse and worse and we need more patrols and more police protection.
Lesson learned: Don’t give any money to anyone on the streets! Give to charities! There are many sick and evil people that will take advantage of you!
Great news one Lazy criminal scumbag behind bars! But for how long. How much time will it serve and Back on the city beautiful streets hurting people again until caught again. Deport him does not deserve to breath the same air we do!
I feel extremely proud of the work our Coral Gables Police Department does to keep all of our residents feel safe. I am also grateful to them for their professional and caring demeanor. At a time when many in the media portray police and the law enforcement community as villains, we all need to stand up for them and support them as we should.