A disturbing video shared on social media last night shows several Miami-Dade Police officers violently arresting a black woman who had called for help after someone pulled a gun on her and her daughter. One of several officers involved has been relieved of duty.
The context of the incident is unclear, but the video begins with a plaintive voice requesting that officers "please calm down."
"She needs to be corrected if anything," a Miami-Dade Police officer responds.
"Why do I have to be corrected when my life and my daughter's life was just threatened?" the woman asks.
"Please stop!" another woman filming the incident says as two MDPD officers lunge at the first woman and grab her wrists. One of the officers handcuffs her. The woman does not appear to struggle in the video, but an officer nevertheless grabs her in a headlock and drags her to the ground.A black woman Called Miami-Dade Police For Help After A Man Brandished A Weapon and threaten her life. Yet, She Was Arrested for being distraught pic.twitter.com/xQ2vvDZZsW
— Brother Tyrone X (@tyrone345345) March 13, 2019
In a statement shared on Twitter, Miami-Dade Police Department Director Juan Perez said, “Upon becoming aware of the video posted on social media, an immediate inquiry was initiated which resulted in the involved officer being relieved of duty and of his role as a field training officer. An investigation into the entire incident is currently ongoing, and upon its conclusion, I will hold those that violated any of our policies and/or procedures accountable for their actions or lack thereof.”
A follow-up call and email to MDPD seeking further comment were not immediately returned. The Twitter account that initially shared the video also did not respond to a message fromAn investigation into the entire incident is currently ongoing and upon its conclusion, I will hold those that violated any of our policies and/or procedures accountable for their actions or lack thereof.
— Juan Perez (@JPerezMDPD) March 14, 2019
The video is alarming. "Why are you doing this?" the woman filming cries.
Although the woman being abused by officers says, "Do not touch me," again and again, she doesn't physically resist arrest in the video. Still, three officers pin her to the ground, wrench her arms behind her back, and handcuff her.
"I just want to call my kids; my phone is dead," the woman says. "I got a gun pointed in front of me; I'm stressed out."
The woman filming the video repeatedly asks for the officers' names and to speak with someone in charge. "We're busy right now," one officer replies. At least five MDPD officers can be seen in the video.
The officers then yank the first woman up, shout "move" at her, and drag her toward a police car.
This story is breaking and will be updated as more details become available.#BREAKING: @MiamiDadePD cop "relieved of duty and of his role as a field training officer" after video shows officers arrest woman who reportedly called 911 after someone pulled a gun on her https://t.co/dfEcKcEEUs via @tyrone345345 pic.twitter.com/Cwo6XBehqP
— Billy Corben (@BillyCorben) March 14, 2019
