Police: Brick Wielding Miami Beach Hotel Burglar Charged

MIAMI BEACH (CBS4) – A man who police say broke into two Miami Beach hotel rooms by smashing their windows with a brick has been taken into custody.

On Friday, Miami Beach police said they received a call about a man attempting to break into room #105 of the Princess Ann Hotel at 9th Street and Collins Avenue. Witnesses told the arriving officers that the man smashed the window and then jumped into the room. The room, however, was occupied and the man, later identified as 38-year old Undrae Barnea.

"When he went into that apartment he was confronted by the hotel guest, got scared, and jumped back out of the window," said Miami Beach Det. Juan Sanchez.

Using the same brick, police said Barnea smashed another window across the street at the Blue Moon Hotel. and attempted to barricade himself in the empty room to escape police.  Officers tried to talk Barnea into giving himself up, but according to his arrest report, he refused and began to throw items around the room. He then jumped out of the broken window and fell to the ground, cutting his arms and hands on the broken glass.

"He did receive multiple injuries climbing in and out of the broken windows. He was transported to Ryder Trauma where he was later arrested," said Det. Juan Sanchez.

When officers moved into to arrest him, Barnea said "My life is over anyways."

Tourists at both hotels were startled.

"It's dangerous," said Ecuadorian tourist Veronica Davalos, who was staying at the Blue Moon. "It's dangerous because you don't know what intentions the guy may have."

Barnea has been charged with burglary of an occupied structure, burglary of an unoccupied structure and criminal mischief. On Monday morning, he appeared before a bond court judge who ordered him held on a $28,500 bond.