Alex Perez, 23, of Brooklyn, was arrested just after 11 p.m. on Friday, October 23, 2026, after he allegedly displayed a knife during a dispute near the Brooklyn set of the film Miami Vice ’85, the New York City Police Department said. No one was injured, the knife was recovered, and Perez was taken into custody without incident, according to accounts of the NYPD statement reported by Parade and Just Jared.
TL;DR: A 23-year-old Brooklyn man was arrested on the night of October 23 after allegedly brandishing a knife near the Miami Vice ’85 set in Brooklyn. Police say the knife was recovered and no one was hurt. Perez is charged with menacing and criminal possession of a weapon, and he remains accused, not convicted.
What happened near the set
Filming for Miami Vice ’85, starring Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler, was taking place in Brooklyn, near Washington Cemetery, when the incident unfolded. According to the NYPD account reported by Parade, citing NBC News, Perez was arrested in the area of Avenue N and McDonald Avenue after a verbal dispute with another man during which he allegedly displayed a knife.
Just Jared, citing TMZ’s reporting from police, described a more detailed sequence: Perez allegedly ran across the set with a butcher knife at about 11 p.m., and police were called after he allegedly threatened a member of the production staff. In video obtained by TMZ, Perez could be seen being escorted off the set before taking a knife from the pocket of his sweatshirt, after which an officer on scene placed him in handcuffs, Just Jared reported.
The two accounts differ slightly in emphasis — one stresses a dispute near the set, the other stresses a confrontation on the set itself — but they agree on the essentials that matter for the criminal case: a knife was allegedly displayed, police responded quickly, the weapon was recovered, and no one was hurt.
The charges and the arrest
Perez was charged with menacing and criminal possession of a weapon, according to NBC News via Parade. Other reports specify the charges as menacing with a weapon in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. Menacing, in general terms, involves intentionally placing another person in fear of physical injury by displaying a weapon. Criminal possession of a weapon covers possessing a weapon unlawfully, which can turn on the type of weapon and the circumstances.
Police said Perez was taken into custody without incident and the knife was recovered. That matters because it closes off one common source of dispute in cases like this: whether a weapon was actually present. Here, according to police, it was found and seized at the scene.
Reports also state that Perez has five prior arrests involving alleged gang-related activity, including burglary and assault with a firearm. Those are prior arrests, not convictions, and this article does not treat them as proof of guilt in the current case. It was not immediately clear whether Perez had retained an attorney, according to NBC News via Parade.
Why a film set became a crime scene
It has not been confirmed whether Jordan or Butler was present on set when the incident happened, according to one report. The film itself was not the target of the alleged threat as described by police; the dispute was between Perez and another man, and the production was the location, not the motive.
What happens next
Perez will face the charges in New York’s criminal court system, where prosecutors must prove the menacing and weapons-possession allegations beyond a reasonable doubt. His prior arrests may be relevant to bail or to how prosecutors view the case, but they are not, on their own, evidence that he committed the acts alleged on October 23.
Production on Miami Vice ’85 is continuing. The film, inspired by the original television series’ pilot and first episode, follows undercover detectives in Miami during an era of drug trafficking and corruption. It is now scheduled for release on May 19, 2028, after originally being planned for August 2027, according to Parade.
Sources: Parade, citing NBC News and the NYPD, October 24, 2026; Just Jared, citing TMZ, October 24, 2026; The Economic Times, October 25, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Alex Perez?
Alex Perez is a 23-year-old Brooklyn man arrested on October 23, 2026, after allegedly displaying a knife near the Brooklyn set of Miami Vice ’85.
What happened on the set?
According to police accounts, Perez displayed a knife during a verbal dispute in the area of Avenue N and McDonald Avenue. Reports citing TMZ say he ran across the set and allegedly threatened a production staffer before an officer handcuffed him.
Was anyone injured?
No. Police said no one was injured during the incident or the arrest, and the knife was recovered.
What is Perez charged with?
He is charged with menacing and criminal possession of a weapon, reported more specifically as menacing with a weapon in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.
Where was the film being shot?
In Brooklyn, near Washington Cemetery, in the area of Avenue N and McDonald Avenue.
Were Michael B. Jordan or Austin Butler on set?
It has not been confirmed whether either actor was present when the incident happened.
Does Perez have a criminal record?
Reports state he has five prior arrests involving alleged gang-related activity, including burglary and assault with a firearm. Prior arrests are not convictions.
Has Perez hired a lawyer?
It was not immediately clear whether he had retained an attorney, according to NBC News via Parade.
Is Perez guilty?
No. He has been charged and accused, not convicted. He is presumed innocent unless prosecutors prove the charges in court.
When is Miami Vice ’85 due out?
The film is now scheduled for release on May 19, 2028.
