Man arrested in the slaying of Pinellas Park homeless man, police say

PINELLAS PARK — Police arrested a 31-year-old man Friday in connection to the death of a homeless person who was found slain in an abandoned home earlier this week.

Miguel Alejandro Haisten, 31, was arrested on a first-degree murder charge, according to a media release from the Pinellas Park Police Department Friday afternoon. Detectives believe Haisten and the victim, 65-year-old Joseph Alan Maiden, had a dispute over occupying the abandoned house. Both Maiden and Haisten were described as homeless by police.

Officers responded around 12:15 p.m. Wednesday to call about a dead person inside the home in the 6000 block of Park Boulevard in Pinellas Park, according to police. They found Maiden’s body and determined he died from blunt force trauma to his upper body, police said.

Investigators learned that a friend of Maiden’s had stopped by the home and found him dead. Maiden had been staying in the home for an extended period of time, police said.

Detectives determined Maiden had been alive inside the home Wednesday morning before Haisten arrived, the media release said.

Police obtained evidence that Haisten arrived at the home around 11 a.m. Wednesday, according to the release. Police did not specify what evidence led them to that conclusion.

According to Police, Haisten forced his way into the home with what they think was a large plaster-cast yard statue. Detectives believe that after making his way into the home, Haisten attacked Maiden with the statue and other objects. Haisten fled the scene after the incident, according to police.

Detectives learned that Haisten had a court appearance scheduled for Friday for an unrelated misdemeanor charge. When Haisten arrived at the Pinellas County Justice Center, detectives arrested him. Haisten declined to give a statement to police, according to the release.

Haisten was at the Pinellas County Jail Friday being held without bail.