WEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Miami-Dade Police officers experienced danger on duty in separate incidents in Southwest Miami-Dade and Northeast Miami-Dade.
A newly released body camera video showed a rough confrontation between a suspect and an officer in Southwest Miami-Dade on June 25.
The footage shows the suspect, identified as 32-year-old George Knowles, was seen swinging and punching the officer, which prompted him to reach for his Taser in order to subdue the suspect.
On Wednesday, Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo Ramirez addressed the dangerous encounter.
“Violence is always going to be there, unfortunately,” he said. “I know that we have a resilient, steady law enforcement agency, and we will not tolerate anybody putting a finger on our officers.”
The altercation happened at the RaceTrac gas station at 11201 SW 216th St. The officer arrived at the scene after receiving a call of trespassing.
“This call in particular was a regular call for service,” Ramirez said.
People at the RaceTrac were ready for Knowles to leave, but he decided to put up a fight.
Once Knowles lunged at the officer, he deployed his Taser, but Knowles continued to fight.
From the bodycam footage, the officer was injured by Knowles but he continued to do his job.
“I’m sure you got a bit busted up,” an officer said.
“Yeah, I’m good,” the officer responded.
After being attacked by Knowles, the officer was left with a broken nose.
“I’m extremely proud of the officer because he was professional, used proper officer safety skills. The subject went at him, struck him in the face, broke his nose, hit his head on the payment, and the officer never lost his composure and never lost control,” Ramirez said. “Subdued the subject until his backup got there and was able to make the arrest.”
Officers didn’t tolerate bad behavior on Tuesday night, either. In this more recent case, four teens are accused of going on a wild ride in Northeast Miami-Dade.
“They’re not going to be able to harm our community,” said Ramirez.
Investigators said the incident started after a sedan ran a red light. They said Michael Alisma was behind the wheel and driving dangerously.
MDPD’s Robbery Intervention Detail team tried to stop the car, and that was when detectives said, Jose Perez started shooting toward a detective out the back passenger window.
Police said the sedan eventually stopped near Northeast 125th Street and 14th Avenue, where the teens bolted, but they wouldn’t get far. Officers were able to locate and apprehend all four teens.
Police arrested Alisma and Perez; they described the other two occupants as witnesses.
The other two teens told officers that the reason they ran is because they were scared.
None of the officers in the Northeast Miami-Dade incident were hurt.
“Each and every day, the men and women of law enforcement here in Miami-Dade County put their lives on the line and face dangers, and make decisions right away, and they act, get hurt, they get shot at,” said Ramirez.
As for Knowles, he is facing a list of charges, which includes attempted murder. 7News was told that this was not the first time Knowles has been in trouble with the police.
Police said they recovered a gun in Tuesday’s incident.
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