South Beach SWAT Standoff Ends Peacefully When Armed Man Surrenders

Miami Beach, FL - A tense standoff in South Beach on Friday afternoon ended peacefully after police successfully negotiated with a man who was reportedly brandishing a rifle on his condominium balcony.

Friday’s incident began around 4 p.m. when Miami Beach Police responded to multiple calls reporting the man's suspicious behavior at a residential building on West Avenue.

According to witnesses, the man was allegedly waving the rifle around and pointing it at nearby buildings and pedestrians.

The situation quickly escalated, prompting authorities to deploy a SWAT team and close off the area.

Police negotiators made contact with the man and eventually persuaded him to surrender without incident.

Authorities say the man, identified as being in a state of mental health crisis, was taken into custody.

Police believe he will likely be involuntarily committed for evaluation.

The standoff caused significant disruptions to the surrounding area, forcing residents to shelter in place and leading to traffic closures.

Authorities are continuing to investigate Friday’s incident to determine whether any criminal charges will be filed.