MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami-Dade police arrested 27 people following a chaotic situation during the Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, the agency said Monday.
The agency also deported 55 people, a department spokesman said.
Hours before the championship match between the two South American countries was scheduled to start at 8pm, the scene was chaotic: fans forced their way in, jumped over security barriers and ran past police and stadium staff, some appearing hysterical as they searched for the people they had arrived with.
On Monday morning, several of those arrested were seen leaving the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade, covering their faces and refusing to discuss the charges against them.
The most notable arrest so far is that of Ramón Jesurún, the 71-year-old president of the Colombian soccer federation. Police also arrested his son; both men are accused of attacking several security guards at Hard Rock Stadium.
Local 10 News has learned the identities of some other attendees facing felony charges.
From left: Luis Beltran Martinez, Elkin Mayorga, Fernando Perez Luis Jefferson Beltran Martinez, 36, of Costa Mesa, Calif., is accused of forcing open doors and throwing water at a police officer trying to “distract him from detaining another arrestee.”
Beltran Martinez is charged with assault on a law enforcement officer and trespassing at a sporting or entertainment event.
Elkin Alberto Mayorga, 35, of Tampa, is accused of jumping the southwest turnstiles and fighting with an officer who tried to remove him from the stadium, yelling obscenities, pushing him and hitting his right hand.
He is charged with assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, trespassing at a sporting or entertainment event and disorderly intoxication.
Beltran Martinez and Mayorga were also being held on immigration warrants.
Fernando Augusto Perez, 56, of Spring, Texas, is accused of grabbing a police officer who was trying to enter the stadium. Police said he ignored officers’ commands and they had to use a Taser on him.
He is accused of assaulting a law enforcement officer and resisting without violence.
Significant damage appeared to have been done to the stadium following Sunday night’s chaos. Videos and images posted on social media showed the side railings of an escalator inside the stadium broken, with shoes, soda cans, reading glasses and clothing left behind. Security barriers at a checkpoint at the stadium’s southwest entrance were bent under the pressure of thousands of people, including crying children.
The department said more than 800 law enforcement officers were present at the event.
In a statement released Monday, event organizers CONMEBOL expressed regret over the scene where many fans entered the stadium without tickets, “tarnishing” the event. The match was delayed for more than an hour as authorities worked to control the situation, eventually deciding to let some fans in without going through security checkpoints.
“In this situation, CONMEBOL was subject to the decisions taken by the Hard Rock Stadium authorities, in accordance with the contractual responsibilities established for security operations,” the organization said. “In addition to the preparations determined in this contract, CONMEBOL recommended to these authorities the procedures proven in events of this magnitude, which were NOT taken into account.”
Hard Rock Stadium released a statement Sunday, saying in part:
“We are grateful to the law enforcement officers who handled a difficult situation and prioritized the safety of the venue, players, their families and fans. We will continue to work with law enforcement to identify and hold accountable the criminals who engaged in illegal behavior tonight. It is disappointing that a night of celebration was impacted by illegal and dangerous behavior, and we will fully review the processes and protocols in place tonight and work with law enforcement to ensure that such an event never happens again.”
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