MIAMI (WSVN) - A confrontation with a Miami Police officer led to a woman’s rough arrest and the resignation of the officer from the force in Miami.
It was a rough and tough take down in the City of Miami.
Body camera video shows the perspective of now former Miami Police officer Miguel Hernandez, who was accused of using excessive force while arresting Julissa Burgos back in November 2020.
The Civilian Investigative Panel, or CIP, for the City of Miami has been looking into this case for months.
“This is obviously very concerning, and I think the police department actually did a really good job on this case, ensuring that this police officer was really brought to justice, quote, unquote,” said Rodney Jacobs, Assistant Director of the Civilian Investigative Panel.
According to a witness, Hernandez showed up to a Valero Gas station on Northwest Seventh Street and 17th Avenue to kick out Burgos after being called by the owner.
An internal affairs investigation found “Ms. Burgos walks past officer Hernandez’s vehicle, appears to turn her cigarette off on his vehicle and continues to walk across the street.”
Hernandez followed her, and when another officer showed up, they tried to make the arrest.
Both officers are seen struggling with Burgos as she screams for help.
In the official complaint, Burgos said, “I suffer from stress-induced seizures. I have no control over when it happens.”
Officers eventually cuffed her and put her in the back of a police cruiser. That’s when things really escalate.
Burgos appears to spit at Hernandez and then cusses at him.
The officer responds by grabbing her by the neck and throwing her to the ground. That’s when a fellow officer started screaming at Hernandez.
Other witnesses start telling him he went too far, something the assistant director for the CIP agrees with.
“It’s never tolerated to operate in the way that this officer did. That’s not police work in any place in the world, and that’s definitely not what safety looks like here in the City of Miami,” said Jacobs.
7News spoke with Burgos’ father, who is infuriated by Hernandez’s actions and wants to see more being done.
The CIP is going to be meeting Tuesday to discuss the incident.
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