Miami Beach’s #1 neighboor, Shaquille O’Neal, has been credited with helping police arrest a suspect who assaulted a gay couple on Sunday night.

The Miami Heat center, who is in the process of becoming a Miami Beach reserve officer, was driving in Miami Beach about 3am Sunday. That’s when he saw a man, riding as a passenger in a silver Honda, yelling gay slurs at the couple, said Bobby Hernandez, spokesman for the Miami Beach Police Department.

He then got out of the car and with a 1.75 liter bottle of Brandy, broke it on the pedestrian’s back, who was left shaken, but not seriously hurt.

The suspect got back in the car and sped off, but O’Neal followed.

“He flagged down the Miami Beach officer on duty there, and the officer was able to apprehend the subject,” Hernandez said.

Michael Gonzalez, 18, was arrested on charges of aggravated assault and assault with a deadly weapon, but the Honda’s driver was not charged. Why not? Isn’t it illegal to be driving with open bottles of brandy in the car?

Shaq has previously stated that he hopes to be police chief or county sheriff one day. He’s got my vote. 

Gus Moore heads up Miami Beach 411 as site administrator, where he has been helping people understand how Miami works for over a decade. See more articles by Gus >