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Residents demand investigation after arrests at Lee Park Unity Festival
Summary
Residents at the City of South Miami meeting urged an official investigation after police actions at a Feb. 15 Unity Festival in Lee Park, describing officers entering gated property, ordering residents 'to go in the house' and one arrest. The mayor apologized and pledged a review and a community meeting.
Dozens of South Miami residents overflowed the public-comment period at the Feb. 18 City Commission meeting to demand an investigation into police actions at a Unity Festival at Lee Park on Feb. 15.
Multiple speakers described heavy-handed tactics by police after the event ended and called for accountability. "They never told me the reason they arrested me. They never read me my rights," said Shalitra Buckner, who described being arrested after she said she remained inside her gated complex. Residents said officers ordered people to go inside their homes, followed residents back to townhouses and used helicopters and out-of-jurisdiction units, creating fear among children and seniors.
Lee Park residents and event organizers told the commission they came to the meeting with videos and eyewitness accounts and asked the city to drop charges against the arrested resident, hold a town hall and issue apologies to affected seniors. Julius Toomer and other speakers linked the incident to broader concerns about community-police relations and called for officers who 'don't belong' to be removed.
Mayor Fernandez described the meeting as "by far the saddest moment for me serving as mayor. I'm personally embarrassed," and said the city would "do our due diligence" to understand what happened and convene meetings with the Lee Park association and residents. Commissioner Rodriguez, who attended the event, said it was "a great event" that ended badly and supported further investigation.
Speakers asked the commission to include business owners (who reported officers entering private establishments), to review use of specialized resources such as helicopters, and to ensure the internal affairs process responds to community complaints. Several residents were urged by commissioners and staff to file formal complaints and to provide video evidence to support the city's investigation.
The commission committed to follow-up: the mayor and manager said staff and police leadership will meet with the Lee Park board, gather evidence, investigate the incident and then hold a community meeting to share findings and next steps.
