Residents press South Miami commission for answers after police interactions; city says outside investigators are compiling report

A string of public commenters at the April 1 City of South Miami commission meeting urged the city to explain recent aggressive police contacts in the Marshall Williamson neighborhood and elsewhere.

Shante Wells, a resident of the Marshall Williamson area, asked the commission to "remove the signs" placed near Lee Park that she said led to repeated police interactions; she said the signs were originally erected to limit non‑resident parking. Another resident, Ashanti Smith, described being approached by multiple officers while sitting in a running, rented car and said she felt intimidated. "I felt harassed because I had 3 cops surrounding me," Smith said.

Mayor Javier Fernandez responded that the police chief had "retained outside investigators who have conducted interviews in the community" and that the city will provide a copy of the resulting report when investigations conclude. "If an apology is owed, we are gonna provide it," the mayor said, while also asking residents to file formal complaints where appropriate so the department can act.

Police Chief (on the record) said officers had been responding to a robbery call in the area, encountered a running vehicle in a restricted parking spot, ran the tag and, upon confirming the driver had rental documentation, allowed her to leave. The chief said the interaction was part of a broader effort to locate an unknown person connected to a call in the area.

Commissioners and staff pledged follow‑up, including providing residents with the investigation's findings and organizing a structured community conversation between police and neighborhood groups to rebuild trust and clarify procedures for enforcement and parking. The chief also agreed to share body‑worn camera footage with concerned residents to help clarify events.