A Miami Police officer has been suspended after a video showing him kicking a suspect in the head surfaced on social media.
The video was taken by a woman on Thursday morning. It shows the suspect on his stomach on the ground, being handcuffed by one officer. Then, another officer comes running in and kicks the man in the head.
Speaking to ABC News, the woman who recorded the video said that before she started filming, the suspect was being chased by the officers and “was looking to find a way to get out.” Once he realized he had no other option, he put his hands in the air and walked towards them.
ABC writes, “She couldn’t tell whether the man was injured, but she said she saw spit fly out of the man’s mouth when he was apparently kicked and saw the same spit strewn across his face after the officers bolstered him to his feet.”
The Suspect Was Charged with Third-Degree Grand Theft for a Vehicle Among Other Things
Today, the City of Miami Police Department received a video of an incident involving one of my officers. The video depicts a clear violation of policy. The officer has been relieved of duty and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s office has been contacted.
-Chief Jorge R. Colina
— Miami PD (@MiamiPD) May 3, 2018
The arrest affidavit obtained by ABC News shows the suspect, 31-year-old David Vladim Suazo, was being charged with third-degree grand theft of a vehicle, fleeing and eluding a police officer, reckless driving and damage to property or person and habitual driving with a suspended license.
On Friday, the Miami Police Department’s Chief Jorge R. Colina tweeted, “Today, the City of Miami Police Department received a video of an incident involving one of my officers. The video depicts a clear violation of policy. The officer has been relieved of duty and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s office has been contacted.”