MIAMI (WSVN) - A Miami Police officer has been arrested and charged with cocaine possession, months after he was allegedly caught consuming the substance at a popular Downtown Miami nightclub.
According to court documents, 25-year-old Adrian Santos, a two-and-a-half year member of the department, was partying at E11even in the early hours of Nov. 18. The release stated witnesses saw him with a plastic baggie containing a white powdery substance.
A nightclub employee alleged Santos, who was off-duty and not in uniform, inhaled the substance. Investigators said a security camera appeared to confirm the witness’ account.
The club’s security director spoke with Santos, took the plastic baggie and escorted him out of the premises and into the hands of off-duty Miami Police officers working a security detail outside.
It was then that all involved found out Santos was a police officer.
“I think what makes this case so particularly important and egregious is that it was a police officer,” said Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
Upon completion of a forensic analysis, the substance was confirmed to be cocaine.
Santos’ drug test came back positive. He was arrested Tuesday and charged with possession of cocaine.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and members of the law enforcement community held a news conference on Tuesday to address Santos’ actions.
“Behavior that is unbecoming of being an officer or being a firefighter in the City of Miami will not be tolerated,” said Miami Mayor Francis Suarez.
Miami Police Chief Rodolfo Llanos said Santos’ actions are unbecoming of a law enforcer. “We hold officers to a higher standard than this, and we cannot allow this to occur,” he said.
“Law enforcement officers have a higher standard,” echoed Fernandez Rundle, “and in this case, Adrian Santos disappointed his colleagues, disappointed his family and disappointed this community.”
Llanos said Santos betrayed the badge and his brothers and sisters in blue. “From the initial uniformed response to the internal affairs investigation, and to the moment he was taken into custody, our agency firmly rejected Mr. Santos’ behavior and with one voice said, ‘You do not deserve to be a police officer,'” he said.
Suarez said they are discussing Santos’ conduct on a day that aims to celebrate those who protect and serve across the country. “It’s sad that on National Law Enforcement Awareness Day, where we take a moment to appreciate the work of our good and fine officers – many of whom are here with us today – that we have to hold one of our officers accountable for behavior that is unacceptable,” he said.
Santos has been relieved of duty pending his termination. He is fighting that decision.
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