Man Charged With Molesting 5 Children On Church Bus In Miami

MIAMI, FL — Police have charged a 43-year-old man with molesting five children on a church bus in Miami. Reniero Rodriguez is facing eight counts of lewd and lascivious molestation against a child under the age of 12 and one count for a child under the age of 16, according to Miami police. The bus was associated with the Ministerio Evangelistico Church in Miami.

Officer Michael Vega of the Miami Police Department said that Rodriguez was arrested Monday by the department’s Fugitive Apprehension Team working with the Special Victims Unit. He said that all of the incidents happened between March and August of 2017.

“He used to be a member of the church,” Vega said of Rodriguez. “Over the clothing he would molest or touch these girls.”

Four of the girls were under the age of 12 while the fifth was between 12 and 15 years of age, according to Vega.

Rodriguez, who listed his address as the unit block of South Dixie Highway in Pompano Beach, was taken into custody at Sample Road and North Dixie Highway. He is a Honduran citizen, according to police.

“We still need to know if there’s any more victims out there,” Vega told Patch.

He described Rodriguez as a churchgoer who boarded the bus with his victims. The church is located at 7155 NW 7th Avenue.

“He was just a churchgoer. He would get on the bus where the girls were,” according to Vega.

To report a tip, call the Miami Police Department’s Special Victims Unit at 305-603-6300. Alternatively, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477); visit www.crimestoppersmiami.com and select “Give a Tip” or send a text message to 274637. Enter CSMD followed by the tip information and press send.

Photo of Reniero Rodriguez courtesy Miami-Dade Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation