A 24-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly harassing students outside Yeshiva Toras Chaim Toras Emes in North Miami Beach in what authorities are investigating as a hate-motivated incident.

Sources tell YWN that on Monday, May 5th, surveillance footage captured the suspect, Jose Garrido, walking near Yeshiva Toras Chaim Toras Emes just before 11:30 a.m. He was seen picking something up off the ground and throwing it onto the school’s field where students were playing. Moments later, he returned wearing black gloves and holding what appeared to be a whip.

Garrido then approached two students and made an unintelligible remark before attempting to grab one of their yarmulkes. He allegedly took an aggressive stance while continuing to  harass them with the whip in hand. The students quickly walked away and alerted a security guard.

The security guard, stationed at the yeshiva’s entrance, witnessed Garrido returning toward the school holding the whip and a wooden stick. He photographed the suspect, which later helped police identify him. On Thursday, May 8th, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s deputies arrested Garrido at his residence on NW 118th Street. During the arrest, deputies discovered a small plastic bag containing what appeared to be cocaine in his pocket.

Garrido was charged with harassment or intimidation based on religion or ethnic origin, as well as possession of cocaine. His bond was set at $10,500.

In an statement to YWN, Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz stated, “We take any form of hate-motivated harassment extremely seriously. In Florida, we have strong protections in place, including HB 269, which clearly defines and prohibits acts targeting individuals based on religion, ethnicity, or attire. This case is being investigated as a hate crime, and we will pursue it to the fullest extent of the law.”

Rabbi Mark Rosenberg, Senior Advisor and Chief Chaplain to the Sheriff, told YWN, “Thanks to the vigilance of the school’s security guard and the quick response by the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Homeland Security Bureau, Garrido was apprehended. As I testified last week in Washington, Florida leads the nation with zero tolerance for religiously motivated attacks. HB 269 ensures that those targeted for their religion, ethnicity, or religious garb are protected under law. We will not tolerate hate—especially against our yeshiva students or any faith community.”

Law enforcement officials reiterated their commitment to protecting religious institutions and ensuring the safety of students and communities throughout Florida.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)