Miami Beach police say a convicted sex offender is off the streets days after a “heinous attack” on a woman who was rollerblading on the beach walk.
Keith Hill Jr., a 30-year-old from Illinois, is being held in connection to a sexual battery that happened at 1 a.m. on July 16 between 23rd and 24th streets.
Police said the victim was rollerblading when a man grabbed her from behind, unprovoked. Cameras around the area captured part of what Miami Beach police spokesperson Chris Bess called a “brazen and senseless attack” at news conference on Friday.
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The man then fled to the Broward County area, Bess said.
Hollywood police were able to make contact with Hill Jr. on Friday when they saw him on the beach, recognizing him from fliers distributed by Miami Beach authorities. Bess said he was "known" in the Broward County area.
He was booked on charges of failing to register as a sex offender, of which he was convicted in Illinois, and providing false ID to law enforcement.
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Bess said Miami Beach police are waiting on an arrest warrant to extradite Hill Jr. to Miami-Dade County.
“This was a very, very traumatic experience for our victim," Bess said. "So this apprehension not only is a win for our city, but we are providing our victim with justice."
On Saturday, Hill Jr. allegedly refused to appear in court.
