Title
Congratulations to Detective Khaled Taha, recipient of the City of Coral Gables “Detective of the Quarter,” for the second quarter of 2024.
Body
ACTION/RECOMMENDATION
I am recommending Detective Khaled Taha be considered for the Detective of the 2nd Quarter 2024 Award, due to his exemplary investigative skills and hard work he displayed during the quarter, enabling him to clear out numerous cases with arrests. This is a testament to Detective Taha's dedication and service to the City of Coral Gables.
BACKGROUND
I am honored to nominate Detective Khaled Taha for the prestigious Detective of the 2nd Quarter Award 2024. His investigative skills, work ethic, and teamwork have played a critical role in his success as a detective. During the 2nd Quarter, Detective Taha successfully cleared eight (8) cases with cleared by arrest. These cases are highlighted below:
Case 19-008026
Residential Burglary
41 Menores Ave 11/09/2019
Years later, on May 30, 2024, the offender's DNA finally came back with a hit confirmation from the MDPD lab. Detective Taha was notified and conducted a follow-up investigation. Detective Taha was able to determine the offender was in custody for a homicide that occurred in the City of Miami. As a result of his findings, Detective Taha submitted an electronic arrest affidavit.
Case 24-002149
Theft by Shoplifting
1500 Douglas Rd (Publix) 3/24/2024
Detective Taha was able to identify the offender who shoplifted at Publix on more than one occasion. Detective Taha conducted an in-depth search of getaway vehicle's tag information via various programs, which led to the identification of the male offender. A photographic line-up was administered to the Publix store manager who positively identified the offender. On May 15, 2024, Detective Taha and his partner, Detective Flores, located the offender at his residence and placed him under arrest. The offender was transported to the police station and questioned post Miranda Rights. The offender cooperated and admitted to shoplifting at Publix. This case was cleared by arrest.
Case 24-003145 & 24-003274
Theft by Shoplifting
358 San Lorenzo Av (Sephora) 4/30/2024 & 5/8/2024
A female offender shoplifted on two separate occasions at Sephora at the Village of Merrick Park. On May 21, 2024, Detective Taha was notified by Loss Prevention that the offender was arrested by MDPD for an unrelated shoplifting incident at another Sephora location. Detective Taha contacted the MDPD officer who had arrested the offender to assist with an identification. The MDPD officer positively identified the offender via video surveillance footage obtained from Sephora. Detective Taha arrested the offender and placed a hold on her, because she was out on bond for Grand Theft. Detective Taha was able to successfully clear two (2) cases with an arrest.
Case 24-003184
Cellphone Theft
405 University Dr (Youth Center) 5/4/2024
On May 8, 2024, Detective Taha was working the afternoon shift, when he heard a call go out over police main at the Youth Center. Detective Taha responded to the scene and located the offender at the Youth Center. Detective Taha connected the offender to a theft of cellphone that occurred four days prior. Detective Taha detained the offender without incident and conducted his investigation. He reviewed the video footage which captured the offender stealing the victim's cellphone. Detective Taha successfully closed the case out with an arrest. He placed a hold on the offender, because he was out on felony bond for a prior narcotics arrest.
Case 24-003495
Theft by Shoplifting (Target)
1906 Ponce De Leon Blvd 5/17/2024
The offender stole merchandise from Target. On May 22, 2024, Detective Taha secured the video footage and was advised by Loss Prevention they had identified the offender. Detective Taha was able to locate the offender, who was already in Miami-Dade Corrections' custody; therefore, he submitted an electronic arrest affidavit.
Case 24-003719
Burglary and Theft from Curtilage
1316 Obispo Ave 5/28/2024
On two separate occasions (5/20/24 and 5/22/24), the offender stole packages from the residence's front porch. Detective Taha received the video surveillance footage for his follow-up investigation. On June 7, 2024, he disseminated a BOLO/Flyer. CST Officers Hernandez and Alzate were able to positively identify the offender from a prior encounter. On June 11, 2024, the offender was apprehended via an ALPR hit along the 1500-blk of Coral Way. Detective Taha interviewed the offender post Miranda Rights at the police station. The offender admitted to stealing the packages. The offender was arrested and charged accordingly.
Case 24-004096
Theft from Structure with Legal Access
4001 Red Rd 6/16/2024
The offender (tenant), who was renting a room at the victim's residence, stole the victim's flat screen TV from the living room wall. Subsequently, the offender was incarcerated for an unrelated incident. The victim's attorney and the offender communicated while he was incarcerated, when he admitted to hiding the TV under his bed mattress. Subsequently, the TV was recovered in the location the offender admitted he placed it. Detective Taha had prior investigations involving the offender at the same incident location. Detective Taha handled the investigation and submitted an electronic arrest affidavit while the offender was already in custody. Additionally, Detective Taha placed a hold on the offender, since he was out on bond during the time of the incident.
SYNOPSIS/CONCLUSION
As evidenced above, Detective Khaled Taha's exemplary work ethic and dedication to the Coral Gables Police Department makes him most deserving of the Detective of the 2nd Quarter Award. Detective Taha is an asset to the Criminal Investigations Division; specifically, the Property Crimes Unit. Thank you for your consideration.