Among those taken into custody following the pandemonium that broke out during Sunday’s Copa America final at Hard Rock Stadium were the head of the Colombian Football Federation and his son.
Arrest reports state that Ramón Jesurún Sr., 71, and Ramón Jesurún Jr., 43, are both accused of violence on a designated official or employee. Misdemeanor battery is the additional charge that Jesurín Jr. is facing.
The father and son are charged with hitting security personnel after Colombia’s Copa America final defeat by Argentina.
After being released from jail on Monday night, Jesurún Jr. told reporters, “It was totally unfair.” And once again, remember that anything might happen because we are only human, but they initiated it. It was absurd since we had the proper credentials, which made it absurd.
Following Sunday’s stadium influx of people, chaos postponed the championship game. According to the police, 27 people were taken into custody; Elkin Mayorga and Luis Beltran Martinez are two of those who may face major accusations.
Martinez, according to the arrest report, hurried through the entry gate without showing his ticket. In a further accusation, he is said to have thrown water at an officer to divert his attention from holding someone else.
Mayorga also jumped the southwest turnstiles, according to a witness who alerted police. According to the arrest record, he attempted to flee and resisted the authorities’ attempts to remove him from the stadium.
Later on, according to the authorities, Mayorga assumed a combat stance. Before being taken into custody, an officer struck him in the face. According to the allegation, he was later admitted to the hospital with a facial laceration.
Charges for trespassing and assaulting a law enforcement official are being brought against both individuals. Additional accusations against Mayorga include disorderly intoxication and violently resisting an officer.
The moment when supporters at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens leaped a fence in anticipation of the much-awaited match between Argentina and Colombia was captured on camera by Only in Dade.
Unruly spectators forced their way past security and law enforcement officers to enter the stadium, and the incident was caught on cell phone video. More footage revealed a further incident in which spectators crawled into the stadium vents.
Subsequently, police issued a statement affirming that spectators attempting to enter the stadium and disorderly conduct were the cause of multiple incidents.
Police claimed in a statement released on Monday that “To ensure everyone’s safety, a large number of unruly supporters without tickets made many efforts to enter the stadium through the gates and avoid the security checks.” This was in spite of the significant safety precautions in place.
There were concerns about whether the venue had enough security measures in place after the commotion.
Former Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez told NBC6 that “We need to approach things a little differently because, as we know, that wild mob comes to party.” “The crowd is beyond your control, but you are in charge of what you can accomplish. Determine the areas of failure by gazing into the mirror.”
During an encounter, a rock was thrown at an officer, according to Miami-Dade Police. According to fire officials, they were called to 116 medical-related events that occurred at and near the stadium.
Mike Ryan Ruiz of the Dan Le Betard Show described the situation as “There was a lot of property damage, some people were harmed, and I personally witnessed some youngsters who were really scared and weeping. It was a terrible scenario that resembled the end of the Titanic, with everyone running around and trying to find their way.”
Later, Hard Rock Stadium issued a statement assuring everyone that security was not the problem.
A Hard Rock Stadium representative stated, “In comparison to a normal at-capacity stadium event, there were more than twice as many law enforcement and security personnel on hand as part of the preparations.”
The spokeswoman acknowledged that there were multiple instances where spectators attempted to push their way past security personnel at stadium entrances.
It was only a few hours before the championship match between Argentina and Colombia was scheduled to take place.
“A number of stadium gates were purposefully closed and reopened in an effort to permit ticketed visitors to enter securely and under supervision. The statement went on, “Fans persisted in their unlawful behavior, attacking police officers, destroying barriers and fences, and vandalizing the stadium, seriously damaging its property.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava expressed her indignation in a statement, pointing out that approximately 550 Miami-Dade Police officers were assigned to the game. She reiterated that this was not the right circumstance to be in.