A man was arrested after allegedly pulling a butcher knife and threatening a crew member on the Brooklyn set of Michael B. Jordan’s upcoming film, “Miami Vice ’85.” The frightening encounter interrupted production Friday night, October 23, as police responded to reports of a disturbance involving a weapon.
According to News 12 Brooklyn, the New York Police Department identified the suspect as 23-year-old Brooklyn resident Alex Perez. Investigators said the confrontation happened around 11:15 p.m. near Avenue N and McDonald Avenue, where the movie was filming. Perez allegedly became involved in a verbal dispute with a 42-year-old man working on the production.
Police said the argument escalated when Perez allegedly displayed a knife, leaving the crew member fearing for his safety. Authorities were contacted, and officers arrived to investigate the situation. The Miami Vice ’85 production was interrupted as the confrontation unfolded near the filming location.
TMZ shared footage showing Perez being escorted away from the production area by a staff member. During the encounter, he appeared to pull a large knife from his sweatshirt pocket, prompting police intervention.
The outlet also reported that Perez directed a racial slur toward the production worker while being handcuffed. Police took him into custody at approximately 11:17 p.m.
In a statement reported by NBC New York, the NYPD confirmed, “The individual was then taken into custody without incident, and the knife was recovered.”
Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Perez was charged with second-degree menacing and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. The charges stem from allegations that he threatened another person with a knife. As of the latest reporting, it was unclear whether Perez had retained an attorney.
TMZ also reported that Perez had five previous arrests involving allegations connected to gang activity, burglary, and assault with a firearm.
Production shut down filming for the remainder of the night following the confrontation. It’s unclear whether Michael B. Jordan or Austin Butler was on set when the incident happened.
The incident happened less than two weeks after cameras began rolling on the highly anticipated crime film. Production started earlier in October in Wayne, New Jersey, where Jordan and Butler were photographed filming scenes on a set designed to resemble a 1980s shopping center.
The production subsequently moved into New York City, where crews have been filming additional sequences. The Friday night incident took place near Washington Cemetery, according to police statements.
Directed by Joseph Kosinski, the upcoming Universal Pictures movie will bring the iconic undercover detective duo back to theaters. Jordan portrays Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs, while Butler takes on the role of James “Sonny” Crockett.
The film draws inspiration from the pilot episode and first season of the original NBC television series, which aired from 1984 to 1989. Philip Michael Thomas originally portrayed Tubbs opposite Don Johnson’s Crockett, with the series becoming known for its crime stories, designer fashion, music, and distinctive Miami setting.
The “Miami Vice ’85” cast also includes John Leguizamo, Walton Goggins, André Holland, Alden Ehrenreich, Whitney Peak, Camila Morrone, Danny Ramirez, Michael Irby, Edi Gathegi, and Andrew Schulz. Leguizamo is reportedly portraying a villain named Calderone.
Kosinski, whose directing credits include “Top Gun: Maverick” and “F1,” is working from a screenplay written by Dan Gilroy, with an earlier draft credited to Eric Warren Singer. The film is being developed as a major theatrical release and is being shot for IMAX presentation.
The original series previously received a theatrical adaptation in 2006, directed by Michael Mann and starring Jamie Foxx as Tubbs and Colin Farrell as Crockett. The upcoming movie returns to the franchise’s original 1980s setting rather than continuing the storyline of that adaptation.
Despite the disruption, no broader production suspension or release delay resulting from the arrest has been confirmed.
