A South Florida man accused of exposing himself to a woman while driving has been arrested for a second time after another woman came forward with similar allegations.
Rogerio Miranda De Souza, 50, was arrested on Wednesday on an indecent exposure charge tied to an incident that allegedly occurred days before the encounter that led to his first arrest in May.
The new allegation comes after South Miami Police previously said they believed there could be additional victims who had not yet contacted investigators.
A judge reviewing the latest case said the allegations appear to show a potential pattern of behavior rather than an isolated incident.
This Is A Separate Incident From The One That Led To His First Arrest
According to South Miami Police, the latest arrest stems from an incident that allegedly occurred on May 11 in the 5700 block of South Dixie Highway in South Miami.
Police said a woman reported that a gray Tesla pulled up extremely close to her vehicle while she was driving in the area. When she looked toward the driver, she allegedly observed the man exposing himself and engaging in a lewd act while behind the wheel. According to the arrest report, the woman attempted to create distance between the vehicles, but the driver allegedly began following her. She contacted the police, but officers were unable to locate the vehicle after she lost sight of it.
The allegations are separate from the May 15 incident that resulted in Miranda De Souza’s first arrest. In that case, another woman told investigators she was followed by a gray Tesla after leaving a gym in Miami’s Brickell neighborhood before the driver allegedly exposed himself while stopped beside her in traffic.
Some readers questioned why the vehicle was mentioned so prominently when we covered the first arrest. According to investigators, however, the vehicle description became an important part of the investigation. Both women described a gray Tesla, and police previously said they believed there could be additional victims.
Woman Came Forward After Learning About Earlier Arrest
According to investigators, the woman initially spoke with Pinecrest Police after the incident. Because the alleged encounter occurred within South Miami’s jurisdiction, she would have needed to file a report with South Miami Police.
Police said she did not do so at the time. However, after learning that Miranda De Souza had been arrested in connection with a similar allegation involving another woman, she decided to come forward and provide a statement to investigators. That report ultimately led to the second arrest announced this week.
The development follows statements made by investigators after the first arrest, when they indicated they believed there could be additional victims who had not yet contacted law enforcement.
Judge Sets Higher Bond After Second Arrest
Miranda De Souza turned himself in on Wednesday and appeared before a judge on Thursday.
During the hearing, the court set bond at $25,000 and ordered house arrest with GPS monitoring. Court records indicate he is permitted to travel to and from work. The bond was significantly higher than the $1,000 bond set following his first arrest in May.
During the hearing, the judge said the new allegations changed the court’s view of the case.
“I find that this was, obviously, the last arrest form that I read was not an isolated incident, I do find that this defendant is showing a pattern of behavior and is potentially a danger to the community.”
Miranda De Souza remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Police Say Additional Victims May Still Exist
When South Miami Police announced the first arrest in May, detectives said they had learned another law enforcement agency was investigating similar allegations involving the same suspect.
Investigators said the similarities between the reports led them to believe there could be additional victims. The second arrest appears to support those earlier concerns.
Police continue to encourage anyone who may have experienced a similar encounter or has information related to the investigation to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Authorities have not released details about any additional investigations.
What Drivers Should Do If They Believe They Are Being Followed
The case also serves as a reminder that safety experts generally recommend avoiding driving directly home if you believe another vehicle is following you.
Instead, experts advise drivers to call 911, remain in populated areas, and head toward a police station, fire station, or another public location where security cameras and witnesses are likely to be present. Drivers are also encouraged to keep their doors locked, avoid confronting the other person, and provide dispatchers with details such as vehicle descriptions, license plate numbers, and their current location.
In both reported incidents, information provided by the women involved appears to have helped investigators identify a suspect.