Carlos J. Gimenez (left), Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla.Photo: Coral Gables Police Department; Joe Raedle/Getty
An “unremarkable” altercation this week between two men at a Miami-area steakhouse nonetheless spiraled out into a case involving the police and sharp-tongued public statements — because of the families involved.
The Coral Gables Police Department confirmed that an investigation into the altercation was ongoing as of Wednesday.
“The incident involved a City of Miami Commissioner, his Sgt. at Arms (Miami police officer) and a resident. Joint investigation is ongoing,” the department said on social media.
Coral Gables Police Chief Ed Hudak later said at a news conference that the younger Gimenez had been charged with a single count of simple battery in the incident, which Hudak deemed “unremarkable.” It was unclear if Gimenez had entered a plea yet.
“There was some kind of conversation and a slap,” Hudak said. “The incident was unremarkable. But because of who everybody is, we decided to let you know what’s happening.”
TheHeraldreports that Gimenez walked over to the commissioner’s table at the restaurant before the confrontation, after which the commissioner’s sergeant-at-arms “held the congressman’s son until several Coral Gables police officers arrived.”
In a statement issued Wednesday, de la Portilla downplayed what happened, describing the slap as “more like a flick of his wrist from behind me” and claiming that the younger Gimenez had approached him from behind and then “ran away.”
“This guy is not known as a very courageous guy,” de la Portilla said. “Actually he’s quite a coward and appeared to be under the influence.”
Emails sent to Commissioner de la Portilla, Rep. Gimenez and his son were not immediately returned.
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Both families involved have long histories in Florida politics.
Carlos Gimenez, who now serves as the U.S. representative for Florida’s 26th Congressional District, was mayor of Miami-Dade County, from 2011 to 2020. According to aweb page for the firmthat employs his son, the younger Gimenez has “almost two decades of experience in local, state, and national politics.” He has previouslylobbied on behalf of the business interestsof former PresidentDonald Trump, prior to his being elected president.
De la Portilla, meanwhile, previously served in Florida’s state House of Representatives beginning in 1994 and was elected to the state’s Senate in 2000.
source: people.com
