CORAL GABLES, FLA. (WSVN) - A Coral Gables Police officer has been relieved of duty, with pay, amid allegations that he kicked a 17-year-old suspect during an arrest.
Officer Andre Hammann allegedly stopped a 17-year-old suspected car thief on Tuesday morning, then kicked him. “During the incident and close to the investigation, the individual made allegations against officer Hammann, that he was kicked during the incident,” said Coral Gables Police Chief Edward Hudack.
#Exclusive pics of juvenile suspect, cops during Tues. incident where alleged battery by now-suspended @CoralGablesPD ofcr. occurred. @wsvn pic.twitter.com/n5wFpY6maY
— Sheldon Fox-7 News (@fox_sheldon) November 24, 2016
The 17-year-old was taken to Jackson memorial Hospital, then released.
Hammann is a 5-year veteran of the Coral Gables Police Department. He was presented the Officer of the Month award in 2014 for arresting robbers right outside the city limits.
“His performance has always been good and he’s been recognized for that by me and the department,” Hudak said. “But we are all judged in police work by what we do at the moment.”
The incident began near Eighth Street, according to Hudak, but it ended at 32nd Avenue. There, Hammann arrested the teen, and allegedly kicked him. “The actual incident began and observed within the city limits of Coral Gables, somewhere off of Eighth Street,” said Hudack.
It happened outside a restaurant, where landscaping and trees were destroyed.
The department’s Internal Affairs division is conducting a criminal investigation into Hammann in conjunction with the State Attorney’s Office. The chief has final say once the investigation is completed.
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