56-year-old man accused of raping woman near Aventura public library

AVENTURA, Florida – A Miami man was arrested Monday after police said he was accused of raping a woman near a public library in Aventura.

The incident happened near the Northeast Dade – Aventura Branch Library, located at 2930 NE 199th St., authorities said.

A 911 caller reported seeing a man, later identified by police as Emmanuel Palmier, 56, who was allegedly involved in the rape, at a bus station near the 19500 block of Biscayne Boulevard around 5 a.m., according to an arrest report released Tuesday.

The victim told police that during the rape, she repeatedly asked the man to “stop and let go of her,” the report said.

Aventura police said shortly after the incident, Palmier boarded a bus, which they followed to 18615 W. Dixie Hwy. The bus was stopped and Palmier was detained without incident, the report said.

Palmier, a French national, was taken to the Aventura police station, where the victim formally identified him as the individual who raped her, according to investigators.

Police said Palmier was informed of his Miranda rights and agreed to speak to investigators.

During the interview, detectives said he made confessions that were redacted in the report that was released.

Authorities confirmed that based on the statements and evidence obtained in this case, there were probable grounds to arrest Palmier.

Prison records show Palmier is accused of sexual assault on a physically helpless victim.

As of Tuesday, he was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Facility, where his bail has not yet been set.