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Congratulations to Officer Joshua De Leon, recipient of the City of Coral Gables “Officer of the Month,” for the month of Feburary 2025.
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On the evening of February 15, 2025, at approximately 2310 hours, while working a Crime Suppression Team (CST) detail, Officer Joshua De Leon observed a white Hispanic male, wearing a black hat (white lettering), blue sweater (white stripes), black pants, and white sneakers, with a black Swiss Tech cross body bag traveling southbound on the 1700 block of Country Club Prado on a white Cannondale bicycle without any lighting equipment. The Crime Suppression Detail was being conducted due to the uptick in residential burglaries in Zone 3.
Due to Officer Joshua De Leon experience and keen awareness he immediately identified the male to be suspicious and notified Crime Suppression Team. Officers M. Alzate (ID #11496) and I who arrived in the area shortly after. Officer Joshua De Leon began to conduct mobile surveillance of the subject riding the bicycle. The subject made a left and turn and began traveling eastbound on Obispo Ave, bypassing the stop sign at the intersection of Obispo Ave and Country Club Prado. The subject proceeded to travel southbound on Country Club Prado in the northbound lanes.
Officer Joshua De Leon and Officer Alzate observed the male traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of the 1800 block of Country Club Prado and initiated a traffic stop at the intersection of Cadiz Ave and Country Club Prado. The offender was advised the reason for the stop was due to not having the appropriate lighting equipment on his bicycle, failing to stop at a stop sign, and riding his bicycle onto oncoming traffic. Officer Alzate asked the offender in Spanish if he would allow officers on scene to search the Swiss tech cross body bag The offender had over his shoulder, to which he consented. I conducted a search of the Swiss tech cross body bag which revealed one 9mm luger "STY" bullet located in the large zipper portion on the front of the cross-body bag, a flat head screwdriver located on the large zipper on the back of the cross-body bag and a small clear plastic bag of suspected Methamphetamine approximately (.318 grams) in the small zipper located on the shoulder strap of the cross-body bag at which point the offender was placed in handcuffs.
Miranda warnings were read per card in Spanish by Officer M Alzate to which the offender voluntarily waived his rights and opted to speak with Officers on scene. The offender stated he was staying at a friend's house near Flagler Street and 37 Ave, and he was riding his bicycle through Coral Gables because he was on his way to another friend's house who resides somewhere west of 57th Ave and Coral Way. The offender was unable to provide an exact location for both of his friends’ addresses. when questioned about the aforementioned findings inside the Swiss tech cross body bag, The offender stated that none of those items belonged to him. The offender stated his friend that lives near Flagler Street and 37th Ave lent him the Swiss tech cross body bag so that he was able to hold his black tablet and charger.
A routine records check was conducted on the offender revealing he is a convicted Felon. Search Incident to arrest of the offender's person revealed he was wearing multiple layers of clothing. The offender had two pairs of black pants along with black shorts underneath the pants. I located a grey folding knife (window punch) inside the right pant pocket of the second layer of black pants. The offender was issued citations for riding a bicycle onto oncoming traffic and no lighting equipment.
The small clear plastic bag of suspected methamphetamine approximately (.318 grams) was impounded reference Miami Dade Sheriff’s Office for lab testing. The 9mm and a knife were impounded into the Coral Gables Property Section.
Based upon the totality of the circumstances the offender failed to dispel Officer Joshua De Leon's concern for property in the area
The offender was charged with (2) Counts, 2nd Degree Felony: Firearm, Weapon, ammunitions possession by a convicted Felon, (I) Count, 3rd Degree Felony: Controlled Substance Possession Suspected Methamphetamine, (1) Count 2nd Degree Misdemeanor, Loitering & Prowling.
Officer Joshua De Leon has shown his tremendous dedication to apprehending criminals and keeping Coral Gables safe. Officer Joshua De Leon's determination to complete a thorough investigation of the scene was pivotal in keeping a convicted Felon armed with a knife, ammunition, and illegal narcotics off the streets of Coral Gables. The City of Coral Gables is safer because of Officer Joshua De Leon's actions on this arrest. Officer Joshua De Leon has continued to show the true value of the Crime Suppression Team and the success of the unit. speaks for itself. It is for this reason that Officer Joshua De Leon to be recognized for his efforts via the Officer of the Month Award for February 2025.