NEAR FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WSVN) — The Broward Sheriff’s Office’s Internal Affairs Division has launched an investigation to determine whether a deputy used excessive force when he punched a handcuffed man during a 2022 arrest in West Park, an incident that was captured on body cameras.
Broward County Public Defender Gordon Weekes raised concerns over the July 15 arrest in a letter sent to Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony.
“It calls for the sheriff’s office to take this action and investigate,” said Weekes.
On Wednesday, a BSO spokesperson confirmed an investigation was underway regarding the incident, adding that it will be forwarded to BSO’s Use of Force Review Board for evaluation.
According to investigators, deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at a woman’s home.
Authorities said the woman told deputies that her boyfriend had pushed her down.
“I was going in the house, he wouldn’t let me go in the house, so that’s when he pushed me,” the woman said to a responding deputy.
Investigators said the situation escalated when the suspect, identified as 20-year-old Ka’Traughan Dones, was being taken into custody.
The bodycam video captured an exchange between the suspect and a BSO deputy.
“Sit on the [expletive] ground,” the deputy said as he pointed a gun at Dones.
“Why do I have to sit on the ground?” said Dones.
“Sit on the [expletive] ground right now,” said the deputy. “Hey, come over here.”
“You come over here,” said Dones.
At one point, a deputy tells the suspect to get off the phone.
“It’s my crib! What the [expletive] are you talking about?” said Dones.
Moments later, the bodycam video shows a deputy appearing to use a handcuff as brass knuckles to strike Dones.
Weekes said the deputy seen punching the suspect went too far.
“Meanwhile, he’s being lifted up, another officer comes over and punches him on or around the head area while he has handcuffs wrapped around his hand,” said Weekes.
Once Dones was in custody, the public defender added, the time for use of force is over.
“It’s one thing for a law enforcement officer to use force, and they have the authority, and the law gives them the permission to use authority to take the situation and get it under control,” said Weekes, “but once you get the situation under control, once you have the person in custody, once they’re handcuffed, they’re now in your care and in your custody, and when you try to abuse them or hurt them or inflict pain, that is problematic.”
An internal affairs investigation, Weekes said, is the best way to avoid a situation like the one depicted in the bodycam video.
“We have a lot of good law enforcement officers out there in our community, and when they see this type of activity occurring, we have to have them stand up and say something about it,” he said.
Dones faces charges of resisting arrest with violence and battery on a law enforcement officer in connection to the July 15 altercation.
The deputies involved in the arrest remain on duty while the investigation is conducted.
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