Miami-Dade County

Man jailed after passing checkpoint for JD Vance visit and has ICE hold: police

A Miami man was arrested after ignoring officers at a Venetian Causeway checkpoint during Vice President JD Vance’s visit on Jan. 28, 2026, police said.
A Miami man was arrested after ignoring officers at a Venetian Causeway checkpoint during Vice President JD Vance’s visit on Jan. 28, 2026, police said. Miami Herald file

Blocked roads and heavy traffic plagued Miami on Wednesday when Vice President JD Vance came to town for a Miami Beach private event. One Miami man decided police checkpoints erected to protect the VP weren’t going to stop him, landing him in handcuffs, police say.

Tobias Gonzalez Garcia, 29, is facing charges of resisting an officer without violence and failure to obey police, according to his arrest report. As of Thursday afternoon, Gonzalez Garcia still remained in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and had a hold from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Around 3:20 p.m Wednesday, Miami police officers and Secret Service agents were working a checkpoint on the Venetian Causeway, right before San Marco Island Bridge, when Gonzalez Garcia approached them on an electric bicycle, the report read.

Numerous checkpoints and closed roads were put in place for Vance’s visit in Miami and Miami Beach.

READ MORE: Vice President JD Vance is coming to Miami Beach Wednesday. Expect traffic

A Miami officer loudly told Gonzalez Garcia to stop, but he instead made eye contact with the officer and continued on his way, the report read.

A K-9 sweep was underway when Gonzalez Garcia pushed through, trying to go around them and into the opposite side of traffic. Another officer stepped in front of his electric bike waving his arm to flag Gonzalez Garcia to stop, police said.

Gonzalez Garcia again ignored the commands, going ahead, but shortly after lost control and fell off of his bike. He swiftly got up and began to run over the San Marco Island Bridge but was eventually captured by police, the report read.

He suffered scrapes on both knees and his right knuckle. He also said he had pain in his left forearm. Miami Fire Rescue treated his wounds.

Devoun Cetoute
Miami Herald
Miami Herald Cops and Breaking News Reporter Devoun Cetoute covers a plethora of Florida topics, from breaking news to crime patterns. He was on the breaking news team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2022. He’s a graduate of the University of Florida, born and raised in Miami-Dade. Theme parks, movies and cars are on his mind in and out of the office.
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