An arrest has been made after a man was caught on video knocking over and vandalizing a menorah outside the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector's Office on Monday night, police confirmed.

Nicholas Eichorst, 46, was taken into custody less than 24 hours after the incident, according to Miami police. Surveillance video shows a man, alleged to be Eichorst, knocking over and damaging the menorah, causing about $500 in damage.

Authorities credited people who work in the area for recognizing Eichorst from previous sightings, which helped lead to his arrest. He faces a criminal mischief charge.  

Miami‑Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez  called the vandalism a "despicable act of vandalism" that has "no place in a civilized society."

"This despicable act of vandalism against our menorah is an attack on the values of faith, perseverance, and unity that Hanukkah represents and that we celebrated just days ago," he said in a news release.

The religious symbol was recently lit during the office's first-ever Hanukkah ceremony at the Downtown Miami office in what will become a yearly tradition.

"We unequivocally stand with the Jewish community in Miami-Dade County and across the nation," Fernandez continued. "Hate has no home here. Light will always prevail over darkness, and we will not be intimidated. The only way to fight darkness is with light, and I will do that every single day of my life."

Fernandez emphasized that the tradition of lighting the menorah will continue stronger than ever.

The vandalism occurred outside the Miami‑Dade Tax Collector's Office at 200 Northwest 2nd Avenue, where staff members shared a photo of the suspect with CBS News Miami — a detail investigators say helped move the case forward.

Fernandez reaffirmed support for the Jewish community, saying, "Now more than ever, we are going to continue to celebrate Hanukkah. We are 100 percent with our Jewish community."

Rabbi Yossi Harlig said the act was meant to knock down more than a symbol.

"They weren't there to knock down a menorah," he said. "They came to knock down what the menorah represents — goodness, kindness, light over darkness."

Surveillance video also captured a moment of resilience: another man stopping to lift the fallen menorah, return it to its place, gather the scattered lights, and quietly walk away.

"That's really the message of the menorah," Harlig said. "You may try to knock down the physical menorah. We're always going to get back up."

Fernandez said he hopes to identify the man who restored the menorah, calling him a reflection of the community's values.

Staff told police the suspect is a homeless man known to frequent the area. Police say the investigation remains active, and community leaders say the arrest sends a clear message that antisemitic acts will not be tolerated.