Police: Homeless man killed in argument

FORT LAUDERDALE – An argument in the streets of Fort Lauderdale led to a violent confrontation, when a homeless man struck another, who fell, hurt his head and died, authorities said Wednesday.

The injured man was further victimized by people who took money from his pockets as he lay in the street bloodied and unconscious for hours before help was called.

Angel Bilche, 38, was arrested Tuesday and faces a manslaughter charge. Killed was Kelly Miller, 57, who died at Browar d Health Medical Center.

Both men were homeless, police said.

The conflict happened in an alley behind the McDonald’s at West Broward Boulevard near North Andrews Avenue at about 7 p.m. Monday, police said.

Miller was in the neighborhood trying to buy drugs, according to an arrest report.

A witness whose name was not released told detectives that Bilche and another man walked into the alley, Bilche landed an uppercut on Miller’s jaw and Miller fell.

People began rifling through Miller’s pockets looking for cash; the witness believed Miller had about $400, the report said.

Nearly six hours later, Miller was still lying on the pavement where he had fallen, and there was bloody foam around his mouth and nose, the witness told police, the report said.

The witness went to security at the nearby Broward Central Terminal for bus passengers and asked for police to be called.

A patrol officer drove the witness around the neighborhood and they saw Bilche near 601 W. Broward Blvd. The witness told the officer Bilche was the man who struck Miller and police took Bilche to headquarters.

During an interview with a detective, Bilche denied punching anyone and said he had been in the area around the bus terminal about eight hours earlier. The knuckles of Bilche’s right hand were scraped, the report said.

During a court hearing Wednesday, Assistant State Attorney Eric Linder said Bilche was released from state prison on May 1, 2018 after serving a five year sentence for robbery in Hillsborough County.

Also in that county, Bilche was convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; trafficking in stolen property; carrying a concealed firearm and escape, offenses that also led to state prison sentences, Linder said.

Assistant Public Defender Brian Reidy sought to win a low bond for Bilche, and said in part, “it appears that the fatality occurred when his head hit the ground, not from the punch to the jaw.”

Reidy also faulted police for relying on a single witness who may not be reliable and said no video or physical evidence were described in the report.

Broward County Judge Jackie Powell set a $100,000 bond.

Fort Lauderdale police ask anyone with information about the case to call Sgt. Steven Nova k at 954-828-5534.