Sofia Galiano/ Asst. News Director
A convicted felon on the run miles from the Modesto Maidique Campus was captured last Friday, two hours after an University alert was released.
On Jan. 23, at 12:14 p.m., the University issued an FIU Alert stating Miami-Dade Police were searching for a 190 lb, white, barefoot male with a face tattoo and in a hospital gown at Southwest 107th Avenue and Eighth Street, 16 miles from MMC.
Nearly an hour later, at 1:04 p.m. another FIU Alert was issued that read, “ALL CLEAR RESUME NORMAL ACTIVITIES.”
The suspect on the loose was Ivan Zapata, a 21-year-old man who escaped officer custody while being transported from Kendall Regional Medical Center at 11:40, Friday morning.
Zapata proceeded to steal a black Mercedes from a woman in the hospital parking garage and took off. Shortly after, the vehicle was found near the University at the location issued in the alert.
Once local police departments were notified of Zapata’s escape, Southwest 127th and 137th avenues and Eighth and 18th streets were sectioned off to continue the search.
At 2:22 p.m., about an hour after the University issued its last alert, Zapata was found in a home within the area sectioned off and was captured.
The off-campus residence hall 109 Towers, located at 737 Southwest and 109th Avenue, implemented a temporary lock down during the manhunt.
“We locked our doors and monitored who came and left,” said Grant Berman, 109 Tower resident services manager.
Berman said a moderate lock down was in effect when employees saw police activity in the area and were informed by officers of the situation.
He said a text message was sent to its residents at 12:40 p.m. through the hall’s personal emergency text messaging system. At this time only residents were allowed to enter the building.
Later, at 1:10 p.m., the hall issued another text stating the lock down was lifted.
About Post Author
