A Cuban woman who caused a scene at a Miami hair salon in September by refusing to pay for hair extensions was taken into custody on Wednesday. After a 54-day search, the Sweetwater Police Department, also known as Little Managua, announced the arrest of Heidys Guzmán, 37, near 67th Avenue and Flagler Street.
Guzmán now sports a completely different look compared to her appearance on September 6, the day of the incident. She dyed the stolen blonde extensions black. "She changed her hair color to avoid recognition, but at least she didn't enjoy the beautiful blonde she had," the salon owner told Telemundo 51.
"We aren't sure if she did it to conceal her identity a bit more. One thing she forgot to change was the neck tattoo, which helped us confirm her identity," said Álvaro Zabaleta, spokesperson for the Miami-Dade Police, to America TeVe.
Guzmán now faces charges of third-degree theft and assault. During her bail hearing on Thursday, the judge ordered her to stay away from the salon and its owner. She was set a bail of $3,500 but remains in custody due to a prior felony warrant.
Incident at Yanka's Hair Extensions
The incident took place at Yanka's Hair Extensions, located at 10780 W Flagler St, Miami. Guzmán underwent an exclusive treatment involving 80 pieces of 24-inch hair extensions, totaling $1,195, and taking about four hours.
When it came time to pay, she presented a bank statement instead of a physical card or cash. The salon owner, Yanka Castillo, informed her that this was not an acceptable payment method, leading to an argument. Castillo attempted to remove the extensions, but Guzmán resisted, pushed her, and fled.
Castillo used pepper spray, but it did not prevent Guzmán's escape. Parts of the altercation were captured on the salon's surveillance cameras.
Salon Owner's Reaction and Increased Security
After learning about Guzmán's arrest, the victim expressed her appreciation to the police. "I don't take joy in others' misfortune, but I feel at peace (...) and I'm glad she's facing the consequences," she said. "She needs to stop hurting people and change her lifestyle," she emphasized.
The business owner revealed that she has bolstered the salon's security measures. "I've installed bars, security cameras, and have self-defense measures. Hopefully, everything stays peaceful as it always has," she explained.
Castillo also mentioned that the incident has impacted her peace of mind, making her wary of potential harm from clients. "Now I tell clients to pay half upfront, which affects my business," she shared.