An unlicensed assisted living facility in Miami-Dade had 30 residents, police say
www.local10.com, Andrea Torres, Layron Livingston, Annaliese Garcia, November 29, 2023
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Detectives with a search warrant surrounded a house on Wednesday morning in Miami-Dade County. It was functioning as an illegal assisted living facility, police said.
Investigators with the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Department of Children and Families entered the house near the intersection of Southwest 122nd Avenue and 207th Street.
Detective Alvaro Zabaleta, a spokesman for the Miami-Dade Police Department, said there were 30 residents, but only 15 were in the house when they arrived.
“These individuals that are in here, that are employees, are not medically trained. They don’t have the proper certifications necessary,” Zabaleta said.
To explain the lack of certifications and licenses, the people who were running the ALF referred to it as an “independent living facility,” according to Zabaleta.
At least four ambulances arrived at the home. Since January, 15 residents of the home have been detained for a mental health evaluation.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel had responded to the house before, and there was an ongoing MDPD investigation.
On Thursday morning, police confirmed that Otto Egea, 65, had been arrested.
He faces charges of operating an assisted living facility without a license, driving with a suspended license (habitual) and domestic violence.
Local 10 News has requested a copy of his arrest report.
Detectives were asking anyone with information about the case to call Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.