MIAMI BEACH, FL, October 26, 2025 – Cornelius Deontea Wedner, 25, of Ellenwood, Georgia, was arrested after an assault and robbery of Mohamed Leigh, a tourist, near the Sherbrooke Hotel on Ninth Street, east of Collins Avenue, at approximately 2:40 a.m., according to police reports and local news coverage.
Surveillance footage showed a man wearing pink clothing punching Leigh, knocking him to the ground, and repeatedly striking him with punches, kicks and stomps. Investigators alleged Wedner took Leigh’s black crossbody bag, valued at $50, and his iPhone before discarding the bag in nearby bushes.
Leigh told responding Miami Beach Police Department officers that he had been attacked without provocation. According to the arrest report, his mouth and jaw injuries worsened during the investigation, leaving him unable to move his jaw because of pain. He was transported to Mount Sinai Medical Center for treatment of a significant jaw injury.
Officers located Wedner in the 1200 block of Washington Avenue shortly afterward. Police said he fled when approached but was apprehended following a brief foot pursuit. Leigh subsequently identified him, according to published reports.
Wedner was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Charges included aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, strong-arm robbery and resisting an officer. A probation violation was also reported. Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Mindy S. Glazer found probable cause on the principal charges and ordered Wedner to stay away from Leigh. News reports subsequently indicated that Wedner posted bond.
