Man charged after assaulting woman triggered by emergency alert

A man is in custody following an assault in Miami Springs, sparked by a woman’s inadvertently activated emergency alert.

Disturbing incident unfolds: phone call triggers police response

Miami Springs Police Department officers responded to a scene after a woman’s mobile phone, mistakenly triggering an SOS signal, initiated a call to dispatchers. The dispatcher’s audible distress – a desperate plea, “Stop hitting me” – prompted immediate action and a swift apprehension of the suspect.

The incident, though occurring outside a residential zone, falls squarely within the Miami Springs Police jurisdiction. Surveillance footage obtained by authorities revealed Andre Lopez attempting to forcibly restrain the woman as she sought to escape his vehicle.

Witness accounts, corroborated by the video evidence, detail a harrowing chase. Lopez pursued the woman, physically assaulted her, and then, in a chilling act, returned her to the car. Quickly, Lopez fled to a nearby hotel where officers located and took him into custody within just five hours.

The woman sustained visible injuries, prompting immediate medical attention. Investigators are working to determine the precise circumstances surrounding the initial activation of the emergency alert and the sequence of events leading to the assault. This case serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of accidental alerts and the critical role played by law enforcement in responding to emergencies.

Lopez now faces charges stemming from the assault. The department is reviewing its protocols regarding emergency alert systems to prevent similar incidents in the future.