Was the large Miami police response to the Bayside Marketplace on New Year's Day due to sightings of ten foot tall aliens or shadow creatures which caused people to run away in terror? No, that's not true: A large number of unruly teens in the area caused several disturbances, including shooting fireworks towards people, four teens were arrested, and there were no aliens. In a social media post, the Miami Police Department explained that a citywide call had gone out for help to contain the crowd.
One example of the claim about aliens can be seen in a post (archived here) published on Facebook on January 6, 2024. It was simply captioned:
So about this....
(Source: Facebook screenshot taken on Tue Jan 9 20:28:41 2024 UTC)
The New Year's Day incident at the Bayside Marketplace with crowds of rowdy teens began to escalate just before 8:30 pm. Police scanner recording is posted on YouTube by the Miami PD Live Radio channel (not associated with any official Miami agency). At the 4:29:47 point in the video (the scanner timestamp displayed in the video reads 20:26:50), the police call goes out due to a large group of people fighting at Margaritaville, initially stating that security is unable to hold the crowd and that a knife was seen.
The video pictured above was posted on X by @wachonico at 9:52 pm on New Year's Day. The caption reads:
Miami. 9:40 pm. January 1st. Bayside.
At 10:17 pm on January 1, 2024 the Miami Police Department posted a traffic alert (pictured below). At 11:30 pm an update was posted stating Biscayne Boulevard was reopened. The original alert read:
TRAFFIC ALERT: Due to a large crowd of unruly juveniles, we have temporarily closed some lanes on Biscayne Boulevard between 2 and 4 Streets. Please avoid this area. MV
(Image source: X screenshot taken on Tue Jan 09 22:51:21 2024 UTC)
On January 5, 2024 the Miami Police Department Instagram account posted a lighthearted video response to the viral rumors about aliens at the scene in Bayside. Just before an animated alien enters the frame, Officer Rafael Horta concludes:
I can confirm to you all here today right now that there are no aliens in Miami in Bayside Marketplace... at the moment. So it's Friday, I hope you guys have a great weekend and stay safe.
(Image source: Instagram screenshot taken on Tue Jan 09 22:51:21 2024 UTC)
Several people on social media jumped in on the rumors about aliens, but there is no evidence of anything but wishful thinking or trolling. One TikTok user @sosa.pippen, got many video views. His 'eye witness' video described large shadow figures coming closer and disappearing and reappearing. Later he took the video down (it was reposted here) and on January 5, 2024 he posted another video where he confessed that he was trolling and had never even been to Miami.
The X account in the screenshots featured in the Facebook post, @moab2597,- made the post on X on January 5, 2024 but said they were at the Miami mall 'yesterday,' which would be January 4 -- days after the incident with the rowdy teens on New Year's Day:
I WAS AT THE MIAMI MALL YESTERDAY AND THE GOVERNMENT IS LYING. THERE WERE NO KIDS FIGHTING. EVERYONE STARTED PANICKING BECAUSE THESE GRAY CREATURES WERE WALKING AROUND. THEY DIDNT MAKE ANY NOISES OR SOUNDS BUT STARED AND WATCHED YOU MOVE. I TRIED TO TAKE A VIDEO BUT (1/x)
There were four juveniles arrested for their involvement in an incident which was caught on camera and posted on X by @ONLYinDADE at 1:53 am on January 2, 2024.
That's like 20 on 1...WOW😳🤦♂️| #ONLYinDADE #downtownmiami
-- ONLY in DADE (@ONLYinDADE) January 2, 2024
*🗞️ Some of the individuals that were also causing havoc at Bayside earlier and fighting, continue to be in the streets of downtown creating more problems. pic.twitter.com/zWTSuZRS5S
In an article published by WPLG Local 10 on January 1, 2024 and updated the next day, the victim's account of what happened was gleaned from police reports:
According to the arrest reports, the victim told police that he was driving in the area when he believed a bottle was thrown at his vehicle, striking the passenger side.
He said he got out of his car to inspect it for damage and asked who threw the bottle.
Police said one teen came forward and said he threw it.
While arguing with the teen, the victim was jumped by multiple juveniles, authorities said.
