Second arrest months after armed robbery and kidnapping in Miami

MIAMI – A man faces serious charges in connection with a violent armed robbery and kidnapping that occurred in Miami in March, authorities confirmed Wednesday.

Miami police said Charles Wilson, 34, was arrested Wednesday after an extensive investigation involving surveillance footage, fingerprints and witness identification.

The incident occurred on March 26 when the victim, identified by police as a 28-year-old woman, was at a friend’s apartment with several other people.

Shortly after midnight, police said Wilson, who had been in the apartment earlier in the evening, entered the room and called the woman over, saying, “Come into the living room, I’ll show you something.”

As the victim stood up and walked toward the living room, authorities said Wilson pushed her to the ground and put her in a head lock.

The report said Wilson asked Jamil Raphael Perkins, 32, to retrieve the woman’s purse and take the cash inside. Perkins then returned from the room with $10,000 in cash, investigators said.

When the victim began screaming, police said Wilson struck her in the face with a gun, causing a severe laceration to her lip and damage to her teeth.

Police said the suspects then debated whether to shoot the victim.

Authorities said the couple eventually decided to take the victim’s cellphone and force her to crawl to the apartment balcony. Once she was outside, they locked the balcony door, trapping her while they fled the scene, investigators said.

Authorities said the suspects left the apartment in a silver Lexus SUV with the victim’s money and phone.

About an hour later, the victim’s friend returned to the apartment and found her on the balcony, the report said. The friend provided police with the suspect’s name, aiding the investigation, police said.

Police obtained video footage from the building’s surveillance system, which they said captured Wilson and Perkins exiting the building and driving away in a silver Lexus SUV. Investigators said they were able to positively identify Perkins in the video, linking him to a September 2023 traffic incident involving the same vehicle.

On March 27, investigators said they located the registered owner of the silver Lexus SUV, who confirmed that Perkins, her boyfriend, was driving the vehicle at the time of the robbery. Surveillance video showed Perkins earlier in the day wearing the same clothing he was seen leaving the building after the robbery, according to police.

While serving the eviction notice, Miami police said they entered Wilson’s apartment and discovered a firearm inside. Detectives said they then ran the silver Lexus SUV for fingerprints, confirming that Wilson and Perkins both operated the vehicle during the crime. Additional fingerprints belonging to Perkins were also found on items inside the vehicle, the report said.

A search warrant was also executed at Perkins’ home, where detectives said they discovered clothing matching what he had worn during the robbery, two firearms and several boxes of ammunition.

Throughout the investigation, police said the victim participated in several photo lineups. During one lineup, detectives said she identified Perkins as the person who took her money. In a later lineup, she positively identified Wilson as the individual who assaulted her and gave her orders during the robbery, the report said.

Jail records show Estrada is charged with armed robbery, kidnapping and aggravated battery and has been held without bail at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center since Wednesday.

Local TV station 10 News requested Perkins’ arrest report. He was not listed as an inmate on the Miami-Dade jail website as of Wednesday afternoon.