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Congratulations to Detective Raiza Mardis, recipient of the City of Coral Gables “Detective of the Quarter Award,” for the Second Quarter 2021.
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ACTION I RECOMMENDATION:
I would like to nominate Detective Raiza Mardis for the Detective of the 2°d Quarter Award.
BACKGROUND:
During this quarter, Detective Mardis was successful in identifying and arresting a total of 3 offenders and clearing a total of 9 cases by arrest (21-001282, 21-001283, 21-000354, 21-001377, 21-001747, 21-001769, 21-001771, 21-002021, and 21-002025) during her brief time in the Criminal Investigations Division. Below is a breakdown of all her investigations leading to arrests.
Detective Mardis was able to link an offender that was arrested for retail theft at the CVS on S. Dixie Hwy., to two of her package thefts cases (21-001282 and 21-001283).
She was later assigned a retail theft case at the Neiman Marcus (21-0013 77) that she linked to another assigned case (21-000354). She networked with Coral Springs Police Department and Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office. Both agencies had 2 subjects that matched the description of the subjects in her cases. The vehicle description in her case matched the vehicle description in the Coral Springs case. Through her investigation, she was able to identify a second involved vehicle, which was a white 4 door Maserati. Detective Mardis initiated an operational plan to conduct surveillance at a couple of possible locations in Hialeah resulting in locating the offender. She was able to clear both cases by arrest.
During the beginning of quarter, Detective Mardis was assigned several graffiti cases where a total of 5 locations were defaced with anti-Semitic messages. Detective Mardis took a proactive approach and reached out to all our surrounding agencies to determine if there were similar incidents within their jurisdictions. She learned that there were several cases that were reported between February and March in Miami-Dade County, City of Miami, and Davie, Fl. As a result, she conducted an extensive area canvas for additional incident locations and video on foot. She was able to track the offender's path from Coral Gables into unincorporated Miami-Dade. Video obtained revealed that the offender spoke with one of our officers at the 7-eleven on Bird Rd. She was able to identify the officer, which was Officer Henson. She then reached out to Officer Henson who recalled speaking with the offender in question. Officer Henson recalled that he made several racial comments. During her investigation there was an additional reported
incident on the 1700 block of Ponce de Leon Blvd., where CCTV captured a subject matching the description of her offender arriving on a small dark-colored scooter. The offender is seen spray painting an anti-Semitic message on the wall stating, "Zionism is Satanism" in black spray paint. Detective Mardis then attended midnight roll call to inform all the alpha officers of her cases and offender. She mentioned how the offender spoke about white genocide and the white race going down and that he was either on foot or riding a dark-colored scooter. At that time, Officer C. Hernandez recalled encountering a white male subject back in November of 2020 stating the same things at the 7-eleven on Bird Rd., and that he had trespassed him from the store (20-005890). Detective Mardis reviewed said case and was able to positively identify the offender as the one that has been committing all our vandalisms. Furthermore, she presented the images to Officer Henson, who positively identified the male as the one that spoke to him
outside 7-eleven the night the criminal mischiefs occurred. Detective Mardis then confirmed the offender's home address by locating the dark colored scooter. She then prepared an operational plan to apprehend the offender at his known residence. During the operation, the offender was apprehended without incident. Detective Mardis prepared for her interview and interrogation. Post Miranda the offender admitted to vandalizing all locations with anti-Semitic messages. The offender also admitted having committed the ones outside our jurisdiction. As a result of this great investigation, Detective Mardis was able to clear 5 cases by arrest. In addition, the following agencies were able to close cases as well:
-Miami-Dade Police Department - 12 cases
-City of Miami Police Department - 3 cases
-South Miami Police Department - 1 case
-Davie Police Department - 3 cases
SYNOPSIS/CONCLUSION:
These investigations are an example of excellent investigative work. Detective Mardis' hard work and dedication to the citizens of Coral Gables should be recognized; therefore, I believe she is deserving of this award.