Father Arrested in Miami for Assaulting His Two-Year-Old Daughter

A resident of Sunny Isles Beach, a city situated on a barrier island in northeastern Miami-Dade County, was taken into custody Tuesday evening after surveillance footage captured him physically assaulting his two-year-old daughter at an apartment complex. The incident has shocked the local community and highlighted the critical importance of vigilance and early intervention in cases of child abuse.

The arrested individual, identified as Andrei Sevastianov, a 37-year-old of Russian descent, faces multiple serious charges, including aggravated child abuse and resisting arrest with violence. The incident occurred at the La Perla complex on Collins Avenue earlier that Tuesday afternoon. A concerned receptionist at the building called 911 worried about the child's safety.

Authorities reviewed the security camera footage, which revealed "disturbing" details of the event. According to the police report, Sevastianov, seemingly upset because his daughter was not obeying him, began physically abusing her. In the footage, he is initially seen in the pool area, where he wrapped a towel around his daughter's neck and started squeezing it while she struggled to break free. After releasing her momentarily, he slammed her against his shoulder while carrying her.

Escalating Violence

The abuse did not stop there. The videos also show Sevastianov dropping the child and kicking her in the head as they entered the building's lobby. He then lifted her off the ground by her hair and continued to assault her on their way to the elevator.

Confrontation and Arrest

When police officers arrived at Sevastianov's apartment, he attempted to resist arrest, pushing an officer and hitting him in the chest. He was quickly subdued and taken into custody. During questioning, Sevastianov tried to justify his actions by saying his daughter was having a "tantrum" and being "fussy," which allegedly caused him to lose control. However, after being confronted with the footage, he admitted to making a "mistake" and promised it would not happen again.

Sevastianov is facing charges of aggravated child abuse, which involves inflicting severe bodily harm or torture, along with several charges of child abuse without serious bodily injury and resisting an officer with violence.

The young girl, identified as Sevastianov's daughter, was transported to Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood for evaluation and medical treatment. Fortunately, her injuries are not considered life-threatening, but authorities have indicated that she will continue to receive medical and psychological care.

Community Response to Child Abuse

Sevastianov remains detained at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, with bail yet to be set. The Sunny Isles Beach Police Department has expressed its dismay over the case, emphasizing the importance of intervening in child abuse situations before they escalate into irreversible tragedies.

This case serves as a reminder of the necessity to be vigilant for signs of abuse, even within families, and underscores the crucial role that surveillance systems, like security cameras, play in preventing such acts. Authorities are urging the community to report any suspicions of child maltreatment, stressing that early intervention can save lives.

The Sunny Isles Beach community, known for its residential appeal in northeastern Miami-Dade, remains shocked by the nature of the incident and hopes this case serves as a warning to implement more effective measures to protect the most vulnerable.