Miami police officer punches suspect (YouTube)
A Miami police officer has been suspended after video showed him punch a handcuffed teenager in the back of a patrol car.
The officer arrested the teen Thursday in Liberty Square after officers found some marijuana nearby, reported WPLG-TV.
A bystander recorded video of the arrest, which shows the unidentified officer talking to the youth seated in the cruiser's back seat.
The officer leans in to speak to the teen and then punches him for no visibly apparent reason.
The police officer then climbs into the back of the patrol car to subdue the youth as the bystander moves in closer to continue recording.
Someone appears to swat away the woman's cell phone, and she says, "Don’t touch my phone baby, move."
The woman said the officer ordered her to delete the recording, but she refused and uploaded the video to Facebook -- where it quickly drew thousands of views.
The police department suspended the officer during an internal investigation, but the police union president said he expected the officer to be vindicated.
"As everyone is aware, social media has placed a very negative tone on law enforcement nationwide," said Lt. Javier Ortiz, head of the Miami Fraternal Order of Police. "While the video may seem disturbing to some, the FOP is convinced that when everything is analyzed within the totality of the circumstances, it will be concluded that the police officer was doing what he is supposed to be doing -- protecting our community."
The teen made brief comments about the case after he was released from custody.
"The video speaks for itself," the teen said. "I don't really have nothing to say."
Watch video from the incident posted online by Photography Is Not A Crime:
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