No bond for man accused of assault on teens
A Pembroke Pines man accused of armed assault against two teenage neighbors was denied bond during a hearing Thursday in a Broward County court.
“The defendant is charged with crimes to which he is not entitled to bond,” Judge Michael Usan said before Mario Perez, 49, and two rows of the courtroom in downtown Fort Lauderdale that were filled with Perez’s relatives and friends. “The facts as alleged in the probable cause affidavit are disturbing. At this time, the court is going to decline to issue bond in this case.”
Perez is a security guard and a former police officer in Hialeah. Hewas arrested April 17 after Pembroke Pines police say he chased teenage neighbors, driver Tyler Muraida, 19, and a 15-year-old friend who were riding in a noisy convertible with the top down.
That night in the Pembroke Shores community, Perez is alleged to have cursed at Muraida, punched him in the face and pointed a gun at the back of the younger boy’s head, striking him with theweapon.
Prosecutor John Tolley asked Usan to deny bond, “to protect the community aswell as the victims of this case. ... The children themselves are terrified that he could do something. One of their statements tome is that he can get to their house in 20 seconds if he follows the speed limit.”
John Hager, Perez’s lawyer, said of his client, “He is not the hothead type of person portrayed in the media and portrayed by the victims.”
He described Perez as a nearly lifelong resident of Florida who doesn’t have a criminal history and is the father of a teenageboy.
Nicole Perez testified that the allegations against her husband of 21 years were “a surprise. He’s a very good man, a good father, andwewould like to have him home to provide for his family.”
Harry Bolinger, a retired police officer and Nicole Perez’s father, called his son-in-law “probably one of the finest people I have ever met.
“When this incident occurred, I think Mario was as surprised at this as I was and the rest of the family,” Bolinger said. “He’s been an outstanding person and we all want to see him get back to his job and move along with his life and his family.”
During the hearing, Hager said the conflict between Perez and the teens was not about a noisy engine but rather the convertible was speeding and nearly struck Perez’s 15-year-old son aswell as a bicyclist. Police did not cite Muraida for speeding inside the community.
Perez faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadlyweapon without intent to kill; battery; aggravated battery with a deadly weapon; and two counts of armed burglary of the car.
Pembroke Pines police said a Miami Police officer was present during the alleged assaults. Sgt. James Ross Faris, 51, was riding in Perez’s car and told investigators he could not see what happened between Perez and the teens in the convertible, according to an arrest report.
Miami Police said last week that the department was looking into Faris’ actions during the altercation. A formal internal affairs investigation had not yet been opened as of Thursday, Officer Christopher Bess said.