Police Search for Missing 70-Year-Old Woman from Little Haiti

Miami Police Department issued a missing person alert for 70-year-old Gladys Simeon, reported missing from the Little Haiti neighborhood, according to a City of Miami Police press release. Simeon had been last seen in the area, though specific details on the exact location within the culturally rich district bounded by Northeast 2nd Avenue and 36th Street were not immediately disclosed. The department described her as endangered, heightening the urgency of the search as of Monday morning. The alert comes amid heightened public safety worries in South Florida, including a deadly high-speed DUI crash involving a Cybertruck driver in Miami-Dade County, as reported by Florida Highway Patrol incident logs. Little Haiti residents, already grappling with broader crime trends, are encouraged to check surveillance footage from local businesses along Northwest 2nd Avenue. "We appreciate the community's assistance in bringing Gladys home safely," said a spokesperson for the Miami Police Department's Missing Persons Unit in the official statement. This incident underscores persistent safety challenges in the neighborhood, where community leaders have called for increased patrols near landmarks like the historic Little Haiti Train Depot. Meanwhile, Florida's surging foreclosure crisis—now the third worst in the nation per state real estate records—adds economic stress for families, potentially straining resources for elder care. Gov. Ron DeSantis' recent activation of $50 million in emergency funds for hurricane preparedness, announced via the Florida Division of Emergency Management, highlights competing priorities as the 2026 season looms. A separate search for 70-year-old Jocelyn Michel, last seen at 8 p.m. in the 15000 block of Southwest 113th Court outside Little Haiti, was previously reported but remains unresolved per police updates. In a related development, another 70-year-old woman reported missing from Little Haiti was located safe, MPD confirmed in a follow-up release. Residents can assist by calling Miami Police at 305-579-6111 with any information on Simeon.