A 50-year-old South Florida man is facing an indecent exposure charge after he allegedly tailed a woman through Miami traffic before pulling alongside her vehicle at a red light and exposing himself. The incident, which unfolded on May 15, has prompted police to warn there may be other victims who have not yet come forward.
The woman had just finished a workout at a gym in Miami’s Brickell neighborhood when she noticed a gray Tesla Model Y repeatedly following her southbound on South Dixie Highway. Authorities said the vehicle description and license plate later became critical pieces of evidence investigators used to identify the suspect. Another law enforcement agency is also investigating similar allegations involving a gray Tesla under similar circumstances, leading investigators to believe there could be additional victims.
The situation escalated near the intersection of South Dixie Highway and Southwest 70th Street when the driver allegedly pulled extremely close to the victim’s vehicle. That was when the woman realized the man beside her had exposed himself while making direct eye contact with her, according to police.
The victim managed to stay calm enough to memorize the vehicle’s license plate number and provide detectives with a detailed physical description of the driver. Investigators later identified the suspect as Rogerio Miranda De Souza, 50, of Pinecrest, and the victim reportedly identified him during a photo lineup. He was arrested the following Wednesday, nearly a week after the incident took place.
How Police Tracked Down Rogerio Miranda De Souza
The investigation moved quickly once detectives had the license plate number and vehicle description. South Miami Police said the information provided by the victim helped investigators identify Miranda De Souza and connect him to the alleged incident.
A photo lineup reportedly confirmed investigators’ suspicions, and Miranda De Souza was arrested on Wednesday, May 21. He was booked at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a charge of indecent exposure and held on a $1,000 bond before posting it Thursday night.
At his bond hearing, his defense attorney reportedly argued Miranda De Souza should be released without bond because he was not considered a flight risk. The judge was not persuaded.
“Yeah, not on these allegations,” the judge reportedly responded before setting bond at $1,000.
His attorney later released a statement saying Miranda De Souza “enjoys the presumption of innocence as does every person charged with a crime in this country,” adding it would be premature to comment further before the facts were fully investigated.
Police Believe There Could Be More Victims
While investigating the May 15 incident, South Miami Police detectives reportedly learned another nearby law enforcement agency was already investigating the same suspect under similar circumstances.
Investigators said the similarities between the cases were significant enough that detectives now believe there could be additional victims who have not yet contacted police.
Authorities are asking anyone who may have experienced a similar encounter involving a gray Tesla Model Y, a driver attempting to gain attention in traffic, or similar alleged lewd behavior to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
Police have not released additional details about the neighboring investigation, but authorities indicated the case remains active.
What This Case Can Teach Drivers About Handling Harassment on the Road
The incident also serves as a reminder of what safety experts generally recommend if someone believes they are being followed or harassed while driving.
In this case, the victim reportedly avoided confronting the suspect directly, stayed inside her vehicle, gathered identifying information, and contacted police. Investigators were then able to use that information to identify a suspect relatively quickly.
Personal safety experts generally advise drivers not to drive home if they believe another vehicle is following them, since doing so could reveal where they live. Instead, experts often recommend staying in populated, well-lit areas while calling 911 and heading toward a police station, fire station, or another public location where there are likely cameras, witnesses, or security personnel nearby.
Experts also generally advise drivers to avoid stopping in isolated areas or getting out of their vehicle to confront someone. If possible, drivers are encouraged to keep their doors locked, continue moving, and provide dispatchers with details like the vehicle description, license plate number, and current location.
The victim’s ability to provide investigators with detailed information about the vehicle, the suspect, and the encounter itself appears to have played a major role in helping detectives make an arrest.
Investigators Say The Case May Still Be Expanding
Miranda De Souza bonded out of jail Thursday night and is expected back in court at a later date. A judge also reportedly ordered that he stay away from the alleged victim if released from custody.
Detectives now believe there could be additional victims after learning another law enforcement agency was investigating Miranda De Souza under similar circumstances.
Authorities continue encouraging anyone with information, or anyone who believes they may have experienced a similar encounter involving the suspect, to contact investigators through Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers.
Update: Law enforcement agencies investigating this case have indicated there may be additional victims connected to similar incidents in the area. Because investigators are looking into reports involving a similar vehicle description under similar circumstances, the make and model of the suspect vehicle were included as part of the identifying details released by authorities. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
This article reads “If you are a Tesla owner you expose yourself to people”. The story is a man exposed himself to a woman after stalking them in a vehicle. You cite “Tesla” 9 times. Could you force it anymore?
Screams Tesla Bias. Perhaps political. Forced into the article. Substitute the word Tesla with vehicle and the article doesnt change at all. Heck, make is Subaru, Prius or Ice Cream truck.
The make and model of the vehicle are relevant here because law enforcement says they are investigating similar allegations involving a similar vehicle description in the area. Investigators are not asking the public to look for a random “vehicle” — they are specifically looking into reports involving a gray Tesla under similar circumstances.
If this had involved a Subaru, Prius, or ice cream truck connected to similar reports, we would have included that too.