- The Miami-Dade Police Department relieved an officer of his duties after a video posted on Twitter showed him hitting a woman at Miami International Airport.
- The officer has not been named publicly by police but was identified by the Miami Herald as Antonio Clemente Rodriguez.
- The incident occurred on Wednesday night at an airport terminal, after a ticketing agent called police on a woman who was complaining about a flight.
- When police arrived, the situation escalated, and the officer hit the woman after she got close to his face.
- The police department says it's launched an investigation into the incident.
The Miami-Dade Police Department relieved an officer of his duties after he was recorded hitting a woman in the face during a dispute at Miami International Airport.
Video of the incident was shared on Twitter Wednesday night by filmmaker Billy Corbin. The recording shows a woman in an airport terminal speaking with the Miami-Dade officer, who has not been publicly named by police but was identified by the Miami Herald as Antonio Clemente Rodriguez.
The woman, who is Black, was heard on the video arguing with the officer and telling him, "You acting like you white when you really Black...what you want to do?" (According to the Herald, Clemente Rodriguez is a Black man of Puerto Rican heritage.)
As the argument escalated, the woman, who was not wearing a mask, put her face up to the officer's, and he then hit her in the face. After hitting the woman, the officer can be heard saying "She headbutted me."
Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo Ramirez said on Twitter that he has launched an investigation into the incident.
"I am shocked and angered by a body cam video that I just saw involving one of our officers," he said, adding: "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."
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez called the video "appalling."
"It's excessive use of force and unnecessary," he said on Twitter. "That's NOT what our @MiamiDadePD are trained to do."
According to the Miami Herald, an airport ticket agent had called the police as the woman complained loudly about a flight. The incident escalated when the officer confronted the woman and she started yelling at him.
Steadman Stahl, president of the Miami-Dade Police Benevolent Association, told The Herald that the officer had hit the woman with an "open-hand slap."
The woman was put in handcuffs following the incident, but it remains unclear if she faces any charges.
- Expanded Coverage Module: black-lives-matter-module
Next Story
Stock markets stage strong rebound after 4 days of slump; Sensex rallies 599 pts
Sustainable Transportation Alternatives
10 Foods you should avoid eating when in stress
8 Lesser-known places to visit near Nainital
World Liver Day 2024: 10 Foods that are necessary for a healthy liver
