The Miami cop caught on camera punching a black woman in the face at an airport is about to be fired, the director of the Miami-Dade Polic...
The Miami cop caught on camera punching a black woman in the face at an airport is about to be fired, the director of the Miami-Dade Police Department announced Thursday.
Shocking video footage emerged on social media Wednesday of a Miami-Dade Police Department officer punching 21-year-old Paris Anderson, sending her tumbling to the ground, during a verbal altercation at Miami International Airport Tuesday night.
The officer has not been publicly identified by the department but Miami Herald said multiple sources have named him as Antonio Clemente Rodriguez, a black officer of Puerto Rican heritage who is stationed at the airport and has a 20-year tenure.
Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo Ramirez III said Thursday he had begun the process to fire the cop following the violent incident.
Shocking video footage emerged of a police officer punching a black woman in the face at Miami International Airport Tuesday evening
The clip shows 21-year-old Paris Anderson facing two officers and yelling at one of them, before getting close to his face. She said: 'You acting like you're white but you're really black. What're you gonna do?'
'As a result of an administrative investigation into the officer's conduct during this incident; it is my intent to proceed with the termination of the involved officer's employment with the Miami-Dade Police Department,' Alfredo Ramirez III tweeted.
'The administrative process to proceed with termination has been initiated. The MDPD holds itself accountable for its actions, and this is just another example of our commitment to do just that.'
But the Miami-Dade Police Benevolent Association has defended the officer's actions saying it was an 'open hand' slap rather than a punch - something sometimes called a 'diversionary strike.'
Steadman Stahl, president of the union, told the Herald Thursday the cop had acted appropriately against Anderson who was 'clearly in his face'.
He also said the union had not heard from the police department about the officer's firing and urged officials to go through the proper channels.
Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo Ramirez III said Thursday he had begun the process to fire the cop following the violent incident. The officer has not been publicly identified by the department but multiple sources have named him as Antonio Clemente Rodriguez
'I hope the officer's rights and due process will not be violated in this proceeding. We have nothing other than the video, and what we are seeing on TV,' he said.
Tuesday's startling assault was filmed on an officer's bodycamera and shows Anderson facing two cops and yelling at one of them, before getting close to his face.
'I really should. You black, you acting like you're white but you're really black. What're you gonna do?' says Anderson getting close to the officer near his chin.
Suddenly the cop believed to be Rodriguez snaps and punches her in the face.
He then throws his hands on her and brings her to the ground as officers in the background shout 'Woah, woah'.
A second officer rushes to pull the two apart, as does the officer behind the bodycamera recording the incident.
In the clip, the cop believed to be Rodriguez is heard claiming 'she headbutted me.'
According to an arrest report written by Rodriguez, he and another officer, Ricardo Alvarez, had been leading Anderson away from an American Airlines ticket counter in the airport after she was 'threatening' and 'yelling obscenities' at a staff member.
'I should go over there and punch him in the face,' Anderson allegedly yelled about the ticketing agent.
According to an arrest report written by Rodriguez, he and another officer, Ricardo Alvarez, had been leading Anderson away from an American Airlines ticket counter in the airport after she was 'threatening' and 'yelling obscenities' at a staff member
Rodriguez had allegedly told her to follow him and the other officer when she 'aggressively approached' him.
The report says he then took a step back and struck her with an 'open hand'.
Ramirez announced Wednesday he had launched an investigation into the incident when the footage surfaced on social media.
He said he ordered for the officers involved to be relieved of duty.
'I am shocked and angered by a body cam video that I just saw involving one of our officers. I've immediately initiated an investigation and ordered that the involved officers be relieved of duty,' he said.
'Actions such as these undermine the hard work that we have invested in our community and causes my heart to break for our community and for the vast majority of our officers who dedicate their lives to serving our County. This will not stand, and I assure our community that any officer acting in this vain will be held to account,' he added.
Ramirez said he also asked State Attorney Kathy Rundle to join the investigation.
Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez slammed the video as 'appalling' and an 'unnecessary excessive use of force'.
'That's NOT what our @MiamiDadePD are trained to do. @MDPD_Director Ramirez has ordered the officer relieved of duty & investigation is underway. This is why I instituted body cameras & MDPD is reviewing all footage.'
Miami Dade Police Department Director Alfredo Ramirez condemned the attack and ordered for an investigation. He said the police officers involved have been relieved of duty
Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez slammed the video as 'appalling' and an 'unnecessary excessive use of force'
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