According to Miami-Dade police, 27 individuals were taken into custody in the aftermath of a tumultuous incident at the Copa America soccer final between Argentina and Colombia on Sunday. The event took place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. The agency made this announcement on Monday.
According to a spokesperson from the department, 55 individuals were also removed by the agency.
Hours before the scheduled 8 p.m. start of the championship match between two South American countries, the scene was chaotic. Fans forced their way in, jumping over security railings and running past police officers and stadium attendants. Some appeared hysterical, searching for the people they arrived with.
Several individuals who had been arrested were spotted leaving the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade on Monday morning. They were seen covering their faces and declined to comment on the charges against them.
Colombian soccer’s president, Ramón Jesurún, aged 71, has been arrested and his son as well, for allegedly assaulting several security guards at Hard Rock Stadium. This is one of the most prominent arrests to occur thus far.
Update at 4 p.m.:
According to sources, several individuals attended the event and are now facing felony charges.
According to reports, Luis Jefferson Beltran Martinez, a 36-year-old resident of Costa Mesa, California, allegedly stormed the gates and hurled water at a police officer who was trying to apprehend another suspect, in an attempt to divert the officer’s attention.
According to the available information, Beltran Martinez is being charged with battery against a law enforcement officer and trespassing at a sporting or entertainment event.
According to reports, Elkin Alberto Mayorga, a 35-year-old resident of Tampa, allegedly leaped over the southwest turnstiles and engaged in a physical altercation with a security officer who attempted to remove him from the stadium. He reportedly hurled profanities at her, pushed her, and struck her right hand.
The individual is being charged with battery against a law enforcement officer, as well as resisting an officer with violence. Additionally, they are facing charges of trespassing at a sporting or entertainment event and disorderly intoxication.
Martinez Beltran and Mayorga were in custody on immigration holds.
According to authorities, Fernando Augusto Perez, aged 56 and hailing from Spring, Texas, allegedly seized a police officer who was attempting to enter the stadium. Despite receiving orders from law enforcement, Perez reportedly refused to comply, leading officers to use a Taser on him.
After posting bail on Monday afternoon, Perez spoke with Local 10 News.
According to him, he had a valid ticket that he purchased for $5,000, but unfortunately, he was unable to gain entry.
Perez recounted his experience of trying to watch the game, stating that as soon as the gates opened, people began pushing and shoving. In the chaos, he was thrown to the ground and even tased. The whole ordeal was a nightmare for Perez and to add insult to injury, he was arrested and spent a full day in jail for simply attempting to enjoy a sporting event.
The individual is being charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting without violence.
Social media was awash with images and videos of the aftermath of Sunday night’s chaos, revealing significant damage to the venue. The side railings of an escalator inside the stadium were shattered, with shoes, soda cans, reading glasses, and articles of clothing left scattered in its wake. Meanwhile, at the southwest entrance to the stadium, security railings were bent over as a result of the thousands of people, including crying children, who had pushed against them.
According to the event organizers, more than 800 law enforcement officers were present at the venue, as confirmed by the department.
CONMEBOL, the organization responsible for hosting the event, expressed regret over the chaos that ensued when numerous fans without tickets entered the stadium, thus “tarnishing” the occasion. The game was postponed for over an hour as authorities struggled to regain control of the situation, ultimately allowing some fans to enter without undergoing security checks.
The 6 p.m. update:
According to the organization, CONMEBOL, they were bound by the decisions made by the Hard Rock Stadium authorities in this situation, as per the contractual responsibilities for security operations. However, CONMEBOL did recommend proven procedures for events of this magnitude to the authorities, which unfortunately were not taken into account.
Hard Rock Stadium released a statement on Sunday that contained the following excerpt:
“We are grateful to the law enforcement officers who managed a difficult situation and prioritized the safety of the venue, the players, their families and the fans. We will continue to work with law enforcement to identify and hold criminals accountable who engaged in illegal conduct tonight. It is disappointing that a night of celebration was impacted by unlawful and unsafe behavior, and we will fully review the processes and protocols in place tonight and work with law enforcement to ensure such an event never happens again.”Excerpt of Hard Rock Stadium statement