Sources: Vince Lago threatened city manager
On the eve of his campaign kick-off Wednesday, Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago got into a confrontation of some kind with City Manager Amos Rojas on Tuesday — and police were called.
According to several sources, Lago and Rojas were at a meeting at City Hall when there was an exchange of words, and the mayor suddenly pulled off his jacket, threw it on the floor, rolled up his sleeves and, apparently, got into a fighting stance.
Read related: Coral Gables police, fire union: Lying Vince Lago is no pal of public safety
Rojas felt threatened enough to call police. Chief Ed Hudak wasn’t providing any details on Wednesday apart from a generic statement:
“This week the Coral Gables Police Department was notified of an incident at City Hall. The Coral Gables Internal Affairs Section was directed to preliminarily document the incident. As is our protocol, our Internal Affairs Section will work as the point of contact in collaboration with outside agencies who will conduct any further investigations.
“This is an open and active investigation by the Department’s Internal Affairs Section. No further comments will be made until the conclusion of the investigation by this office, or other investigative agencies, at this time.”
— Coral Gables Police Chief Ed Hudak
Sgt. Alejandro Escobar, the department’s spokesman, said there would not be any further information released, including the original incident report.
Lago did not return calls and texts to his phone. Lago’s attorney, Ben Kuehne, made the following statement in an email on Lago’s behalf:
“The report is completely and maliciously false. Mayor Lago categorically refutes any allegation regarding an altercation at City Hall. A witness can and will corroborate the Mayor’s position. This bad faith reporting is nothing more than political theater from a City Manager who was appointed in violation of Florida’s Sunshine Law. The official City records reflect that the Manager is and has proven to be unprepared and uninterested in tackling the serious and important issues affecting The City Beautiful. As a reminder, the ongoing efforts to destabilize the City began a year ago and reflect the priorities of only a portion of the Commission that appointed this Manager. The erroneous reporting should not be given either attention or credibility by members of the press.
“Mayor Lago assures the City and its citizens and businesses that he will continue his passionate efforts to work on behalf of all to make the City of Coral Gables the best Florida municipality in which to live and work.”
— Attorney Ben Kuehne on behalf of Vince Lago
Um, that ship has sailed.
Sources say the “witness” Kuehne referred to is Assistant City Manager Albert Parjus, was also reportedly in the room when the confrontation happened. He did not return calls, either.
The Miami Herald reported that Lago, in a text, mentioned that Parjus could verify his account of events.
“I categorically refute any allegation regarding an altercation at city hall,” Lago said in the text message reported by Tess Riski. “This is nothing more than political theater from a city manager who was appointed by clearly violating the state’s Sunshine Law and who has proven to be unprepared – and uninterested – in tackling the serious issues affecting our city.”
So Kuehne provided him with a Cliff Notes version?
Everyone knows that Rojas wasn’t the mayor’s first choice to replace former City Manager Peter Iglesias, but to pick a physical fight?
Read related: Coral Gables skips search, hires new city manager Amos Rojas on the spot
Rojas, a former U.S Marshal and special agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement who can “clean up” City Hall, came on board in February, forced onto Lago by three commissioners — Melissa Castro, Ariel Fernandez and Kirk Menendez — after Iglesias was forced out by the same three and a botched effort to bring Miami-Dade Aviation Director Ralph Cutié publicly fizzled.
He, too, declined to comment directly, but issued a statement through the city’s spokeswoman:
“I am proud to serve as the City Manager for the City of Coral Gables and am working diligently with our dedicated team of professionals to tackle issues our city is facing.
“In my more than four decades of law enforcement management experience, I have always strived to work in a collegial manner with my colleagues and superiors. Any innuendo that the Sunshine Law was violated is simply untrue.
“As to the incident, as the Police Chief has stated, the matter is under investigation and I am unable to provide any further comments.”
— Coral Gables City Manager Amos Rojas
Ladra made a public records request of his calendar to see what the meeting Tuesday was about. But as of late Wednesday, nothing had been provided.
But maybe it’s not about Rojas, at all. This is only the latest in a chain of public meltdowns that Lago has been having for months now. Las malas lenguas say he went off on a group of residents recently. If anyone was there, please drop Ladra a note.
People better be careful if he gets his buttons pressed at the Loews tonight. Or at least get their cellphones out and ready to record. Please. Thank you.
Coral Gables Internal Affairs check out mayor’s ‘assault’ incident at City Hall added by Ladra on
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The bad news for Lago is that Hudak discloses that this matter now involves “other agencies.” Of course it does. Hudak can’t investigate his own bosses.
This means that FDLE and/or State Attorney is involved.
” NO PUBLIC INCIDENT REPORT RECORDS ” Where Is The Profesionals at ONE Of Miami Triangle Cites (Coral Gables, Miami & Hialeah) Why Cover The Manure Still Smells BAD ?
He belongs in the city of Miami where his crookedness and low brow behavior fit in.
Thank you for showing the campaign poster. Now I know where to send my check. I was not a fan of Lago before but the 3 Enemigos are out of control and need to be stopped.
…. Coral Gables has not fallen…. it is Lago who is sinking… Lago holding on to the city for dear life… dragging it down…. time to let this crook go… so the city can continue to shine under competent ethical leadership…
I guess the City Beautiful ain’t so beautiful after all. How low we have fallen? Elect a two bit mobster like Lago and look what you get. He forgets like many in local and federal government that we are still a democracy and the majority rules whether we like it or not. Civility and common decency seems to be on hiatus. Coral Gables residents you can do better.
this reminds me of a coffee mug I own: “I”m not Yelling, I”m Cuban”. This was Mayor Vinnie’s version: “I wasn’t fighting. I’m Cuban”. watch the Commission’s meetings: he is condescending, disrespectful & patronizing to everyone – anyone outside his little cabal. he confused running unopposed in the last election with popular support. that’s two different things.
Lago’s brother is a lobbyist. Yup. Carlos Lagos used to work for Francis Suarez when Baby Francis was a novice commissioner in Miami. Now Carlos Lagos works for developers and scammers who want favors from Vince Lagos and Francis Suarez.
The ones who need to be watched are the three commissioners who gave themselves a raise, plus appointed and hired a new city manager without advertising or interviewing for the position. All they’ve done since they took office is to create division and criticize the mayor. I know I will not be voting for them next election.
Time and time again people will vote for this dirt bag. Often times many who complain will do so. The chief well he’s corrupt just as well always turning a blind eye and making hush side deals just like he did for Benny but it only came to explode in his face. So the chief along with little man lago are shot and all I can say is that with time and sometimes long after but do believe in karma. The chief is also looking to screw over all cops and residents will find out if they haven’t already.
Our ghetto continues to expand throughout Dade county
We residents will know things are improving in Coral Gables when all of the commissioners are willing to fight the new city manager. Then we’ll truly know the manager is not favoring one faction over another.
This unfit Mayor is a LIAR!!! I live it myself!!! He treated me to sue us , shut down my Bussines in Gables and he did!! He is a LIAR unfit for that position!!! Shame on that Mayor!!
Nothing to see here. His little jacket must have gotten hot so he took it off and it fell on the floor. As for flexing, he was just showing off his cross fit moves. Why does everyone attack little Vinnie?
Does this surprise anyone? Par for the course. Hot Head Lago.
Just another day in the City Beautiful. Perhaps the majority of the community will finally open their eyes and see who the real problem is on the dais. This behavior is a common occurrence and a clear indication the Mayor is on the deep end. It will be interesting to see how the Chief maneuvers through this politically. He will play both sides for self preservation. Hopefully, the City Manager watches closely and takes note. Welcome to the sh@tshow. The plot thickens. To be continued…
Nothing to see here. Nothing happened, but I will have my high priced criminal attorney respond for me. Smart.
Hudak? The same person who was communicating with the sex deviant UM football coach? The same person who gave the coach directions on how to get out of a lewd & lascivious act? Hudak will have to decide his future. Will he cower to the Mayor or answer to his direct boss, the manager?
Chief Hudak’s Internal Affairs puppets are on the case? HaHaHa Let’s see how Hudak plans on squashing this for his boyfriend Lago. His corruption loyalty to Vince is about to be tested, at the same time, his attempts to build a relationship with his new boss who is a corruption fighter is on the line. So Chief, will you get to cover this up as you have done for many of your “friends” or will you try to have integrity and be transparent knowing this is most likely the end of your bully buddy and savior. Can’t wait to see how this plays out. Either way, what an embarrassment to Coral Gables!
Absolutely disgusted by his behavior.
If this is how he treats the City Manager, imagine how he treats the rest of the employees of the City of Coral Gables. Imagine how he treats the commissioners behind closed doors…. To show you how much he respects his employees, just ask our first responders. He treats the Policemen and Firemen with 0 respect. Fun fact… did you know about 1-2% of public safety employees live in coral gables. He doesn’t even want to pay them enough to live in the city in which they serve. He’s a disgrace. He is a big cry baby, that does nothing but disrespect others when he doesn’t get his way. These past several months are nothing but a true representation of who he is.
What lack of professionalism and self control. How is this guy still in that seat? Please get HIM OUT!!