Suspect Swims Half a Mile in Alligator-Infested River to Evade Arrest in Miami Springs; Arrested by K9

Miami Standard (Miami Springs, FL) – Miami Springs Police apprehended a Hialeah man Saturday morning after he allegedly tossed railroad spikes through the window of one of the city’s patrol cars before jumping into the Miami River and swimming nearly half a mile through alligator-infested waters to avoid capture.

During a regular patrol at 8:56 a.m. Saturday, Miami Springs police spotted Jandier Arrieta, 31, of Hialeah, “picking up rocks from the ground and throwing them at the City of Miami Springs welcome sign,” according to an arrest report (attached at the end of this article).

The 1500 block of North Royal Poinciana Boulevard is near a railroad crossing, and residents used to walk across the canal to the Okeechobee Metrorail station.

The cop activated his lights and siren and pursued.

“As he ran, [Arrieta] reached into his pocket and pulled out two large metal train track spikes, which he threw at the [occupied] patrol vehicle,” shattering the rear passenger-side window and denting the door, according to the arrest affidavit. Arrieta then returned to the train station and leaped into the Miami River, “swimming northbound towards the City of Hialeah.”

Signs along the river banks warn, “Beware of alligators.”

More than a dozen police officers from Virginia Gardens, Medley, Hialeah, and Miami Springs joined in to restrict roadways around the river, which runs down Okeechobee Road. The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office chopper provided aerial support.

Arrieta was found near the Hialeah River bank at W. Eighth Avenue and Okeechobee Road.

“The defendant had a tense posture, gripping a large rock in each hand, then forcefully threw the rock in his right hand toward the direction of [Miami Springs police] Sgt. J. Castillo,” the officer’s report states. “The rock did not strike J. Castillo.”

Arrieta then dived back into the river, swimming south, followed by a johnboat. According to the affidavit, the suspect exited the river again, this time at Hammond Drive and North Royal Poinciana Boulevard, carrying a rock.

When he refused to comply with the police’ instructions to drop the rock, they “deployed K-9 Mando, who successfully apprehended the defendant,” according to the report. But Arrieta wasn’t finished.

“Defendant continued to resist arrest, clenching his fists and flailing his arms. After a brief struggle, the defendant was taken into custody. Miami-Dade fire rescue responded on scene and treated the defendant for bite wounds due to K-9 apprehension on his left forearm and right thumb. While attempting to load the defendant onto the Miami-Dade fire rescue gurney, the defendant proceeded to spit at Ofc. Aguila.”

According to police, Arrieta was taken to Jackson West Hospital for medical evaluation before being transferred to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. He faces charges of aggravated assault on a police officer, throwing a dangerous missile, battery on a police officer, criminal mischief over $1,000, criminal mischief between $200 and $1,000, and resisting arrest with violence. The bond hearing is planned for Sunday.

According to the Miami-Dade County courts database, Arrieta has a 2019 arrest for assault with a deadly weapon and two 2024 arrests, one for trespassing and the other for aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon.