Homestead man arrested after allegedly following Lyft passenger into her apartment

Police arrested a 28-year-old Homestead man on Monday after he allegedly groped a Lyft passenger during a ride and followed her to her apartment, where he tried to push his way inside.

Kevin Narvaez Cruz was taken into custody at his home in the 2700 block of Southeast 15th Street. He faces charges including burglary with an assault or battery, lewd and lascivious battery on an elderly or disabled adult, false imprisonment, indecent exposure, and battery.

According to the arrest report, Cruz picked up the woman in West Perrine on Oct. 31. A friend had arranged the trip home using the Lyft app. The report states that Cruz used a translation app to speak with the passenger and repeatedly offered her money for sex during the drive.

The woman told investigators that Cruz reached into the back seat and rubbed her thigh several times. She said she told him to stop and pushed his hand away, but he continued the contact. When she exited the vehicle, she said he was masturbating and exposed himself.

After the ride, the woman said she ignored Cruz’s attempts to call her back and walked toward her upstairs apartment. She looked behind her and saw him following about a foot away. As she unlocked her door, Cruz pressed his body against hers and tried to push inside. The report notes that his feet crossed the doorway during the struggle.

The woman pushed Cruz away with her shoulder and remained outside, locking her door. She attempted to walk to a neighbor’s apartment, but Cruz repeatedly blocked her path. He fled after she pointed toward another resident. Police documented a bruise on the woman’s left hip and obtained doorbell camera footage from a neighbor showing the driver following her.

Investigators identified Cruz using vehicle records and his photograph from the Lyft app. During questioning, he gave conflicting accounts of the incident. He claimed the woman initiated physical contact and that they kissed, but changed his story about where that happened. He denied exposing himself and denied fully entering her apartment.