A man pleaded guilty after attempting to rape a female smokehouse employee in Miami Springs

MIAMI SPRINGS, FL. – A man who police say was caught on surveillance video dragging a woman into a back room and attempting to sexually assault her at a Miami Springs tobacco shop has turned himself in, saying he “wants to make things right.”

Tyrone Armbrister, 30, turned himself in to Miami Springs police on Sunday, days after video of the incident went viral and sparked outrage in the community. Jail records show he now faces three charges: sexual battery, false imprisonment and burglary.

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As he left the Miami Springs police station in handcuffs and entered a police car to be taken to jail, Armbrister spoke briefly to reporters.

“I came to fix it. I made a mistake,” he said, attributing his behavior to being under the influence of alcohol.

The incident occurred on November 9 at a smokehouse in Miami Springs.

According to police, the clerk heard screaming coming from the back of the store.

The surveillance footage shows Armbrister grabbing the woman and forcibly dragging her to the back room. Investigators say he groped her and she repeatedly begged him to stop.

Armbrister told Local 10 News he was intoxicated at the time of the attack and suggested his drink may have been spiked.

“My sincere apologies. I hope she’s okay,” Armbrister said. “I came back because someone has to take responsibility.”

He added: “I made the mistake of drinking too much, and that’s when I made the mistake. I let someone put something in my drink without paying attention.

When asked by Local 10’s Cody Weddle if he had ever committed a similar act, Armbrister replied: “No. that’s why it shocked me when I saw the video.”

Surveillance footage of the alleged assault shocked the community and prompted law enforcement to take quick action. Miami Springs Detective Jacob Dweck said the recording was particularly difficult to watch and listen to.

“It’s a very difficult film not only to watch but also to listen to,” Dweck said.

The detective praised the victim’s courage in fighting back and emphasized the department’s commitment to holding criminals accountable.

“We want to let all criminals know that you come to Miami Springs, you are committing a crime, we will catch you, we will charge you and you will be arrested,” Dweck said.

Armbrister said he decided to drop the case after learning that the surveillance footage had been widely distributed.

“Someone must have come to me and told me you’re on TV,” he said, acknowledging the role the video played in his surrender.

Authorities did not release additional details about the victim, but confirmed that he was not physically injured in the incident.

As of Monday, Armbrister remained in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where his bond was listed as being set.