Miami Beach Police are investigating an attempted sexual battery allegation that has been made against a city commissioner, sources said.
Public Information Officer Ernesto Rodriguez confirmed to NBC 6 Thursday that the department is working with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office on a case involving Commissioner Ricky Arriola.
Sources said Arriola is accused of attempted sexual battery by a woman who he was on a date with, but police would not release any additional information on their investigation.
A heavily redacted report said the alleged incident happened on Dec. 15 and was reported Wednesday.
Arriola sent a statement to NBC 6 saying there is "zero truth to the complaint in question."
"I was on a first date with a woman who I met on an online dating site. I felt that she had too much to drink over dinner and she was intoxicated, so I ended the date and went home," Arriola said in the statement. "She was upset with my decision, but I knew this was the right thing to do. Multiple witnesses who saw us that evening can confirm this sequence of events.”
Arriola, a Miami native and successful businessman, was first elected to the commission in 2015 for a four-year term representing Group Five. He was a prominent supporter of a proposal to stop alcohol sales on Ocean Drive at 2 a.m., which was voted down by a nearly two to one majority.
Stay tuned to NBC 6 on air and online for updates on this developing story