SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Miami-Dade Police have released body camera footage from an incident involving officers arresting an amputee who fell on the ground.
A day after a video showing Mary Brown, who had both her legs amputated, falling face first from her wheelchair onto the ground as she was arrested, Miami-Dade Police are now showing the officers’ point of view during the incident.
In the video, an officer can be heard asking the woman where she is going.
“Where you going?” he asked.
“I’m not bothering nobody,” Brown responded.
“Na, Na, Na, go over here. Come on. Don’t make me come over there and roll you,” the officer said.
The department released the body camera video leading up to the arrest, Thursday. The incident took place Saturday night at the Chevron gas station on Southwest 268th Street.
On the video, the two patrol officers said they had warned Brown about pan handling there before, and you can hear them confronting her.
“I’m not bothering nobody. He just gave me a cigarette,” Brown is heard saying in the video.
“Get over to the patrol car,” an officer said.
“Sir, I’m not bothering nobody,” Brown said again.
After a brief back and forth, the officers took Brown’s wheelchair and began pushing her towards the police cruiser.
Brown then states again, “I’m not panhandling.”
Once they arrive at the vehicle, Brown closed the door of the cruiser.
“I’m not trespassing,” she said as she closed the door.
An officer then tells her to get in the car.
Brown responded, “I’m not. I want to see my mom.”
Things escalate as Brown refuses to get in, and the officers go to cuff for her arms. However, Brown begins to resist officers, and she falls out of the chair.
The officers appear to be confused as to what to do next as she lies on the ground.
“Stop hurting me,” Brown yelled as she fell. “You see what you did?”
“You did! What the hell is that? Oh, Lord, man,” the officer responded.
“Will you get me off of this ground,” Brown then is heard asking the officers.
After reviewing the video, the Miami-Dade Police director released a statement that read in part: “As a result, I’ve directed staff to contact organizations for disabled persons to ensure our officers are utilizing current best practices when dealing with individuals requiring special assistance.”
“Just because I don’t have legs to move about like everybody else, I still was in my chair, and I deserved some respect,” Brown said.
The director also said the arrest was appropriate. However, he acknowledged officers need to work with social service agencies to better serve the community.
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