Miami City Commissioner Joe Carollo has been cleared of criminal wrongdoing after a years-long investigation by the Broward State Attorney’s Office into allegations of harassment, stalking, and threats against a former police chief.
In a closeout memo released this week, the public corruption unit concluded that the evidence “did not rise to the level of criminal conduct” and that the state could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Carollo’s actions constituted a crime. The matter has now been referred to the Miami City Commission for potential further review.
Carollo, a controversial figure and former Miami mayor, had been accused of harassing the owners of Ball & Chain, a well-known bar and lounge in Little Havana, and allegedly retaliating against former City of Miami Police Chief Art Acevedo. While he was ordered to pay $63 million in a separate civil case involving claims of abuse of power against the business owners, the criminal case has now been closed with no charges filed.
“First of all, I never even knew that I was being investigated,” Carollo told 7News on Thursday. “So, to me, it was a surprise that an investigation is closed when there was nothing there.”
Although Carollo has been exonerated in the criminal matter, legal challenges remain. A separate case is still pending, alleging that he violated the First Amendment and unlawfully retaliated against Acevedo during his time as police chief.
Despite the mounting legal scrutiny, Carollo maintains that he is the one being unfairly targeted. “I’m the one that’s been bullied,” he said.
The Miami City Commission will now decide whether to conduct its own internal inquiry.
