Man arrested after menorah vandalized outside of Miami-Dade Tax Collector’s Office

Police have arrested a man they say vandalized a menorah outside the downtown office of Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections Dariel Fernandez.

The act, caught on surveillance video, has been condemned by local and international leaders as a hate-fueled attack on religious expression.

In the video, viewable below, the suspect can be seen walking up to the menorah and throwing it to the ground, resulting in several of the bulbs that represent candles to break off the Hannukah candelabrum, which appears to be about 7 to 8 feet tall. The man then dismantles a small fence that surrounded the menorah before fleeing.

Extended footage Fernandez’s office released shows another man ride up to the fallen menorah on a motorized scooter, stand it back up and clear the blubs from the sidewalk before riding away.

According to Fernandez, the menorah had been installed just days earlier as part of his office’s first-ever Hanukkah lighting ceremony, which he said will be an annual tradition.

Fernandez said law enforcement moved quickly.

“I am grateful to law enforcement for their swift response,” he said in a statement. “The individual responsible has been identified, taken into custody, and formally charged.”

Fernandez also highlighted the benevolent actions of the bystander who intervened after the vandalism.

“One bad actor tried to destroy the menorah, but a good Samaritan from our community came back and restored it,” he said. “That is the message — the only way to fight darkness is with light.”

The menorah was repaired, re-erected and relit shortly after the arrest.

Miami-Dade Commissioner Natalie Milian Orbis called the incident more than simple property damage.

“This was not just vandalism, it was an act of hate,” she said in a statement. “It targeted a sacred symbol and the values of faith, resilience and unity that Hanukkah represents. Hate has no home in Miami-Dade County.”

International condemnation also followed. In a statement, the Consulate General of Israel in Miami said it “unequivocally condemns the vandalism of the menorah … and any act that targets Jewish symbols, faith, or community life.” The Consulate also praising local law enforcement and Fernandez for standing against antisemitism.

Police have yet to publicly identify the suspect, who is likely to face charges of criminal mischief for property damage, the punishment for which varies from misdemeanor to felony depending on the extent of the damage.

If prosecutors pursue a hate-crime enhancement, penalties could increase, potentially exposing the suspect to a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines.