Man jailed after passing checkpoint for JD Vance's Miami visit and has ICE hold: police

Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald on Jan 29, 2026

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MIAMI — Blocked roads and heavy traffic plagued Miami on Wednesday when Vice President JD Vance came to town for a Miami Beach private event. One Miami man decided police checkpoints erected to protect the VP weren’t going to stop him, landing him in handcuffs, police say.

Tobias Gonzalez Garcia, 29, is facing charges of resisting an officer without violence and failure to obey police, according to his arrest report. As of Thursday afternoon, Gonzalez Garcia still remained in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and had a hold from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Around 3:20 p.m Wednesday, Miami police officers and Secret Service agents were working a checkpoint on the Venetian Causeway, right before San Marco Island Bridge, when Gonzalez Garcia approached them on an electric bicycle, the report read.

Numerous checkpoints and closed roads were put in place for Vance’s visit in Miami and Miami Beach.

A Miami officer loudly told Gonzalez Garcia to stop, but he instead made eye contact with the officer and continued on his way, the report read.

A K-9 sweep was underway when Gonzalez Garcia pushed through, trying to go around them and into the opposite side of traffic. Another officer stepped in front of his electric bike waving his arm to flag Gonzalez Garcia to stop, police said.

Gonzalez Garcia again ignored the commands, going ahead, but shortly after lost control and fell off of his bike. He swiftly got up and began to run over the San Marco Island Bridge but was eventually captured by police, the report read.

He suffered scrapes on both knees and his right knuckle. He also said he had pain in his left forearm. Miami Fire Rescue treated his wounds.