Former Miami police officer Mario Figueroa was acquitted of assault yesterday despite a viral television that appeared to show the policeman recoil a handcuffed suspect in the head . Figueroa ’s lawyer argued that the attention around the case made this a “ Facebook misdemeanor . ”
The incident happened in May 2018 after 31 - year - previous David Suazo stole a Jeep , sending pig on a mellow - speed chase . Suazo was already look - down on the land in handcuffs when Officer Figueroa give up at the suspect ’s look , as you may see from thevideo captured by an onlooker . But the officer claimed he never made contact with Suazo and therefore his actions were justified .
“ This was a crime created on social media . This was a Facebook misdemeanor , ” Figueroa ’s attorney Robert Buschel said , according to theMiami Herald . “ In a motor lodge of police , the display case die . ”
Gif: (Lisa Harrell/Facebook)
TV of the incident go viral on Facebook , Twitter , andYouTubebefore being picked up by local news show . In the full video recording you could see that the defendant was on the terra firma for a considerable amount of time before Officer Figueroa comes on the prospect .
Bodycam footage secrete later point Officer Figueroa taunting the defendant in the hospital , saying , “ If I need to kick you , you cognize , I would have kicked you veracious ? ”
Miami - Dade county justice Michael Barket dismissed the charges midway through the guinea pig on Wednesday before Figueroa ’s lawyer even present a defence . Miami - Dade prosecutor say that while Officer Figueroa may not have made contact , he still went too far . And Miami ’s police force chief agrees .
“ What I saw render in the picture , I feel was not in the good interest of the department , ” Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina tell theMiami Heraldyesterday . “ We ’re in the business of building cartel in the community . We ca n’t have the residential area afraid of the police . ”
Officer Figueroa was fired but is trying to get his job back . And he has a lot better probability of that after his acquittal . The defendant in this case , David Suazo , pleaded hangdog to grand theft of a fomite , flee a police policeman , heedless drive , and drive on a suspended license . Suazo was sentenced totwo and a half year in prison .
Police have been under increase scrutiny in the age of smartphones and social medium . It ’s become much easy for the average person to start recording when they see supposed police brutality , and video like this one often go viral when they appear to show something outrageous .
But that does n’t always signify that police officer who ’ve exceed their authority are fetch to jurist . A police officer in Minnesota was acquit in 2017 after he pour down Philando Castile during a traffic stop in June 2016 . Castile ’s death was livestreamed by his partneron Facebookand Castile look to postdate the officer ’s lodge but was shot anyway . And a police officer in Pittsburgh was recently acquitted for shooting and kill an unarmed teenager , Antwon Rose II , in the backduring a traffic stop . video recording of the incident was captured by a neighbour across the street .
Just because there ’s picture that goes viral does n’t mean that justness will be served . But Officer Figueroa ’s attorney may have manufacture a raw DoD for cop to use in the future : the Facebook misdemeanor . The tangible offence , it seems , was people on the cyberspace watching how the cops behave when they think no one is see .
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