Florida Cop Is Relieved From Duty For PUNCHING A Black Woman At Miami Airport
Bodycamera captured the shocking moment when a police officer punched a black woman in the face Wednesday at the Miami International Airport.
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While It’s unclear what sparked the argument, the woman can be seen facing two officers and yelling at one of them, before getting close to his face: “I really should. You black, you acting like you’re white but you’re really black. What’re you gonna do?’ the woman, who is black, says while getting close to the officer near his chin.
Seconds later, the cop snaps and lunges a punch at the woman’s face. He then throws his hands on her and brings her to the ground as officers in the background shout “Woah, Woah.” As the other officers rush to the two, the cop who punched the woman is heard claiming “she headbutted me.” Following the incident, which went viral on social media, Miami Dade Police Department Director Alfredo Ramirez announced an investigation into the incident. He said that he ordered all of the involved officers to be relieved of duty.
“I am shocked and angered by a body cam video that I just saw involving one of our officers. I’ve immediately initiated an investigation and ordered that the involved officers be relieved of duty,” he said.
According to the Miami Herald, several sources identified the officer Antonio Clemente Rodriguez, a black officer of Puerto Rican heritage, who was stationed at the airport. While it’s still not clear what sparked the dispute, one law enforcement source said the woman was complaining loudly about a missed or delayed flight.
The other officers involved in the incident and the woman have not been named.
“Actions such as these undermine the hard work that we have invested in our community and causes my heart to break for our community and for the vast majority of our officers who dedicate their lives to serving our County. This will not stand, and I assure our community that any officer acting in this vain will be held to account,” he added.
Meanwhile, the president of the Miami-Dade Police Benevolent Association said the officer hit the woman with an “open-hand slap,” which is sometimes called a ‘diversionary strike.” “Clearly she was the aggressor. She was being asked to leave. She’s being belligerent and she pushes her face right into his face,” PBA President Steadman Stahl said, according to the Daily Mail. However, Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez slammed the video as “appalling” and an “unnecessary excessive use of force.”
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