Miami

Suspect in Car Theft Related to Abduction Hoax Arrested: Miami-Dade Police

Antonio Monzon, 32, was arrested Tuesday on a grand theft auto charge

A man accused of stealing a car from a South Florida woman who was arrested after she falsely claimed her young grandson had been taken during the car theft has also been arrested.

Antonio Monzon, 32, was arrested Tuesday on a grand theft auto charge for stealing the Hyundai Accent back on Nov. 18, Miami-Dade Police said.

According to an arrest report, Monzon met with 37-year-old Antoinette Rowan to perform a title transfer and give her a temporary tag for the Hyundai in exchange for $150.

Monzon and Rowan went together to a Walmart and ended up at a Sunoco gas station on Southwest 112th Avenue. Rowan said she went inside to buy beer and Monzon drove off in her car, the report said.

Rowan initially told police her 3-year-old grandson was inside the car when it was stolen, but after an extensive search it was learned the child was at home with Rowan's daughter, police said.

Rowan told investigators she lied about the child being in the car in the hopes that the car would be found faster, police said. She was later arrested and charged with filing a false police report.

Monzon was spotted driving the car in southwest Miami-Dade on Tuesday and arrested. He told detectives he had a verbal agreement with Rowan to buy the car from her and on the day of the alleged theft was meeting with her to make the final payment, the arrest report said.

Monzon said he got into a dispute with Rowan because he refused to drive her to buy heroin, so he left her at the gas station, the report said. He said he believed he had purchased the car and claimed Rowan is a drug addict and a compulsive liar, the report said.

Jail records showed Monzon was being held on $5,000 bond Thursday. Attorney information wasn't available.

Contact Us