August 2025
Officers of the Month
Detective Leanjoseph Lenbien and Detective Osvald Salien
The North Miami Police Department’s “Officer of the Month” for August 2025 are Detective Leanjoseph Lenbien and Detective Osvald Salien. They are currently assigned to the Investigations Division. They are being recognized for their outstanding performance during the following incident:
On August 21, 2025, Detective Lenbien responded to the 13550 NE 1Oth Avenue in reference to an attempted kidnapping. A juvenile female was walking home from school when she became aware of a vehicle trailing her in an unusual and persistent manner. Shortly thereafter, a male suspect, who had been lying in wait inside the vehicle, exited abruptly and approached the juvenile. Without provocation, the suspect forcibly grabbed the child and dragged her into his vehicle. The juvenile exhibited extraordinary courage and will to survive the assault. Despite being physically overpowered, she was able to struggle free from the suspect's grasp, escape his control, and flee the immediate area. She successfully returned to her residence where police were called and responded.
Detective Lenbien arrived on scene and initiated investigative procedures by obtaining statements from both the juvenile victim, who was visibly distraught and an eyewitness, who was emotionally shaken by the incident. Both provided accounts that were consistent in description of the suspect's sudden attempt to abduct the juvenile victim and his vehicle. Recognizing the urgency and severity of the situation, Detective Lenbien commenced an immediate canvass of the surrounding area. He methodically sought surveillance footage from residential and commercial properties within the vicinity, as well as additional eyewitnesses who might offer further insight into the attempted abduction. Through diligent efforts, Detective Lenbien successfully recovered relevant video surveillance capturing portions of the incident. The footage revealed a clear image of the suspect vehicle involved. Utilizing this evidence, he developed and distributed a Need to Identify flyer featuring the suspect's vehicle, aiming to generate leads. While the flyer was helpful in providing a vehicle of interest, Detective Lenbien did not have a tag or the identification of the driver.
Detective Salien collaborated with an outside agency and through camera and license plate technology he was able to obtain the license plate number of the suspect vehicle. From that license plate number, they were able to determine that the vehicle was a rental car. Detective Lenbien and Detective Salien responded to the rental car company and were able to discover the name of the suspect. Working together, Detectives Lenbien and Salien identified the possible suspect and generated a photo line-up. The victim and witness both identified the subject from that line-up. Detectives Lenbien and Salien were able to locate the suspect's home address and determine that he had been arrested under a previous North Miami case where he fondled the breast of a 12-year-old child. This knowledge intensified their efforts. Their policing experience told them that the suspect was becoming bolder and more aggressive in his search for young victims. It was a matter of time before he would go hunting again for another young girl to be abducted. Following the identification of the suspect and confirmation of his residence, members of the Crime Suppression Unit (CSU), already engaged in proactive surveillance in the vicinity of the attempted abduction, were briefed with the newly acquired intelligence. As the suspect was seen exiting his residence, the CSU detectives acted immediately and strategically, approaching and detaining the suspect without the use of force. The subject was taken into custody before he had the opportunity to flee or offer resistance.
Detective Lenbien and Detective Salien obtained a full confession, leading to the suspect's arrest. During the interrogation, he told detectives after failing to abduct the juvenile victim, he was going to try and abduct another young girl. He also told them that he doesn't know why he does what he does, and he knows he has a problem.
The swift actions, collaboration, and dedication of Detectives Lenbien and Salien led to the rapid apprehension of a dangerous individual who targeted a vulnerable victim. They protected other children as the suspect advised he was going to continue his efforts to abduct young girls. Their efforts have made the community safer and exemplified outstanding police work.