A woman in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood is facing a felony charge after police say she attacked a U.S. postal worker delivering mail, using her car, and later threatened the worker with a pellet gun.<\/p>\n
Lourdes Maria Portugues is charged with assault with a deadly weapon with prejudice, according to Miami-Dade police. Investigators said the incident escalated from a verbal confrontation to an alleged attempted assault and threats of gun violence.<\/p>\n
Police say the postal worker, a Black woman, was delivering mail on a residential street when Portugues’ child approached to retrieve mail. Officers allege Portugues yelled the n-word at the postal worker, then sprayed her with a garden hose.<\/p>\n
According to an arrest report, the postal worker called 911 after the confrontation. Police say video from the scene shows Portugues getting into her car, turning around on the dead-end street, and repeatedly driving toward the worker in an apparent attempt to hit her.<\/p>\n
Documents state Portugues later yelled at the victim, “I’m going to shoot you. I have a gun inside my house.”<\/p>\n
Officers responding to the call searched the home and found a pellet gun inside Portugues’ bedroom, police said.<\/p>\n
Neighbors say they are not surprised by her behavior<\/p>\n
Neighbors said the behavior was troubling but not entirely surprising.<\/p>\n
“This is the first time it’s coming out with other people,” said Edgar Mendoza, who lives nearby. “Most of the time, it’s inside their home.”<\/p>\n
Portugues appeared in bond court on Wednesday, where a judge set bond at $15,000. She was ordered to have no contact with the victim and placed on house arrest with an 11 p.m. curfew.<\/p>\n
The judge also warned Portugues to avoid the postal worker if mail delivery continues at her home.<\/p>\n
“If the victim is still delivering mail at your home, you’d better avoid her, stay in your house, or go the other way,” the judge said.<\/p>\n
As a condition of her release, Portugues is prohibited from possessing or using any type of gun.<\/p>\n