A 61-year-old woman was left bleeding on a Miami sidewalk after police say Tavaris Greene, 40, approached her from behind and allegedly delivered a sucker punch to her face for no apparent reason.
The alleged attack occurred in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami around 3 p.m. on Aug. 6, according to an arrest report obtained by Law&Crime. The victim was walking down the street when Greene, wearing a black hoodie, approached from the opposite direction. Surveillance video captured the moment Greene allegedly swung at the woman, striking her in the face and sending her crashing to the ground before fleeing the scene.
Background
Mónica Zapata, owner of Calle Ocho Sports Bar located nearby, was among the witnesses who rushed outside after hearing the commotion. She told WSVN that she found the victim severely injured.
"She was bleeding profusely from literally the skin of her face, by her nose, and her nose, she's dripping blood," Zapata said in an interview with the Miami-based Fox/ABC affiliate. "He just leaves her there."
Zapata told investigators that several business owners in the area who operate surveillance cameras teamed up to assist detectives working to identify Greene. She described him as someone "new to the area" who had been seen repeatedly walking back and forth along the street, talking to himself.
The Investigation
Miami police tracked down Greene approximately two hours after the alleged assault. One of the responding officers recognized him from a prior arrest and directed investigators to his location. Greene was transported to the Violent Crimes Unit at the City of Miami Police Department for questioning.
During intake, when asked if he needed anything, Greene spontaneously told officers, "I am having a bad day because I punched someone," according to the arrest report. About an hour later, he allegedly repeated the admission to a detective and added that he had smoked synthetic marijuana earlier that day at his residence.
Greene was charged with felony battery. During his first court appearance, Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Mindy Glazer noted the victim sustained a fractured nose, lacerations to her left cheek, and required sutures for her injuries.
Key Takeaways
- Tavaris Greene, 40, is charged with felony battery for allegedly punching a 61-year-old woman in Little Havana on Aug. 6
- Surveillance video captured the unprovoked attack as the victim walked down the street alone
- The victim suffered a fractured nose and facial lacerations requiring medical treatment
- Greene admitted to police he was "having a bad day" after punching someone and said he had used synthetic marijuana that day
- A Miami police officer recognized Greene from a prior arrest when locating him approximately two hours after the incident
What's Next
Greene is being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on $150,000 bond. Court records indicate he was scheduled to appear for additional proceedings following his initial appearance.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to review surveillance footage from area businesses.