Man Accused Of Attempted Murder In Coral Gables

CORAL GABLES, FL — A 24-year-old man is facing multiple charges in Coral Gables, including attempted murder, stemming from a violent altercation earlier this month that left a woman hospitalized for more than a week and an earlier incident in July in which he is accused of taking a woman's wallet and the soda she had been drinking, according to Coral Gables police.

Richard Anthony Jones was also charged with battery of a person 65 or older, petit theft, credit theft, burglary to an occupied structure, threatening a law enforcement officer, violation of probation, grand theft and burglary with battery.

Officer Kelly Denham of the Coral Gables Police Department said Jones was arrested Tuesday afternoon in the 100 block of Almeria Avenue after being spotted by a security guard along the 2500 block of Ponce de Leon Boulevard. Denham said Jones made threats to arresting officers as he was being taken into custody.

Victims tied Jones to two incidents in which he is accused of gaining their trust by saying he was collecting money for a football trip.

The first incident took place around 2:45 p.m. on July 30 at a business in the 100 block of Almeria Ave.

"The victim gave him $10 and offered him a cold soda," Denham said. "Subject Jones grabbed the
victim’s wallet from her desk and snatched the soda from the victim as he fled the office." The victim picked Jones out of a photo lineup after his arrest.

Jones was also identified in another photo lineup by a woman who was beaten and her money stolen around 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 2 in the 1300 block of South Dixie Highway.

"Using the same ruse about collecting money for a football trip, he asked the victim for money and the victim handed him $20," Denham said. "The victim escorted subject Jones to the door where he stated that he left his pen in her office. She returned to her office and felt someone standing behind her and as she turned around, subject Jones with
both hands, forcefully and intentionally pushed her and she fell to the ground."

Denham said Jones repeatedly kicked the woman in the ribs.

"The victim begged for subject Jones to stop kicking her as she believed he was going to kill her," Denham said. "Once subject Jones stopped kicking the victim, he stole her wallet
and fled the scene. "

The woman spent more than week in the hospital as a result of the incident, according to Denham.