Watch: Miami Judge Recognizes Defendant From Middle School

An impromptu middle school classmate reunion in Miami-Dade bond court lead to tears today after Judge Mindy Glazer recognized that Arthur Booth, the man charged with burglary before her, was a former classmate of hers at Nautilus Middle School in Miami Beach. Booth, 59 was arrested on Monday by Hialeah...

By Kyle Munzenrieder

July 2, 2015

Audio By Carbonatix

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An impromptu middle-school reunion in Miami-Dade bond court led to tears today after Judge Mindy Glazer recognized that Arthur Booth, the man charged with burglary sitting before her, was her former classmate at Nautilus Middle School in Miami Beach.

Booth, 49, was arrested Monday by Hialeah Police. The suspect was spotted driving a gold Honda that matched the description of a vehicle believed to have been involved in a robbery, according to NBC Miami. An officer tried to stop the car, but Booth took off, leading to a police chase. Booth didn't obey stop signs and got into two accidents before eventually crashing the car. He fled on foot but was eventually caught.

He was arrested and charged with various counts of burglary, grand theft, reckless driving, leaving the scene of a crash, fleeing from an officer, criminal mischief, and resisting arrest without violence.

Booth was taken to bond court Monday, and Glazer was on the bench.

"Did you go to Nautilus?" Glazer asked.

"Oh my goodness," Booth replied multiple times at first with smiles and then with tears.

It turns out that decades ago, the two had been classmates at Nautilus Middle School.
"I'm sorry to see you here," Glazer replied. "I always wondered what happened to you.

"This was the nicest kid in middle school; he was the best kid in middle school," she continued. "I used to play football with him, all the kids, and look what has happened.

"What's sad is how old we've become. Good luck to you, sir. I hope you are able to come out of this OK and just lead a lawful life," she said.

Glazer, however, set Booth's bond at $43,000. He has yet to post it.

Booth has at least one previous arrest for theft in Miami-Dade in 2010. The case has been assigned to a different judge.

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