On July 26, 2021, five Miami Beach Police officers assaulted nonresistant Dalonta Crudup in handcuffs at the Royal Palm Hotel; officers also assaulted and later arrested a bystander, 28-year-old Khalid Vaughn, who was recording the incident on his smartphone. Police arrested 24-year-old Crudup for illegally parking a scooter and allegedly severely attacking an officer with it.[2] Both men were African-American.[3]
| Date | July 26, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Time | ~ 1:00 a.m. EST[1] |
| Location | Royal Palm Hotel Miami Beach, Miami, Florida |
| Type | Police brutality |
| Non-fatal injuries | 2 |
| Charges | Sgt. Jose Perez, Officer Kevin Perez, Officer Robert Sabater, Officer David Rivas, Officer Steven Serrano |
Event
editAfter running from police, Crudup was captured and handcuffed on the floor of the lobby of the hotel,[4] where he was repeatedly kicked by officers, had his head slammed into the ground,[4] while not resisting, and was punched.[5] An officer then tackled recording bystander Vaughn, and another then repeatedly kicked and elbowed him in the face[4] and punched him in the ribcage.[4]
Aftermath
editCivilians
editVaughn was arrested on charges of resisting an officer and interfering with a police officer, while 27-year-old Sharif Cobb, also recording, was also arrested and charged with battery and aggravated assault against a police officer; the charges against Vaughn were dropped, while Crudup's were reduced to fleeing and eluding police.[6] Crudup commented on the attack, saying "I got beat up, got stitches, went to the hospital. ... They beat up two dudes that was recording me that was inside the hotel, and they ain’t even do nothing wrong".[1]
Officers
editThe officers were suspended, surrendered to face charges, and all five were subsequently criminally charged with first-degree misdemeanor battery.[5] Miami Beach Police Chief Richard Clements called the officers' response "disheartening",[5] and investigation is still ongoing.[7] Three officers had their charges upgraded to third-degree felonies, with Kevin Perez and Jose Perez being charged with felony battery, and Javier Serrano charged with official misconduct.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Germain, Atahabih (2021-07-31). "'I Literally Got Jumped By Officers': Four Miami Beach Cops Placed on Leave Following Aggressive Arrest of Two Black Men Who Were Filming Arrest of Another Man In Hotel Lobby". Atlanta Black Star. Archived from the original on 2021-07-31. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
- ^ Hackney, Deanna (August 3, 2021). "5 Miami Beach officers face charges after the alleged use of excessive force during arrest inside hotel". CNN. Archived from the original on 2021-08-03. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
- ^ Associated Press (2021-08-02). "5 Florida officers charged over violent arrests of Black men". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2021-09-23. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
- ^ a b c d Shepard, Willard (30 July 2021). "Miami Beach Officers May Face Charges Quickly Over Rough Arrest Seen on Video: Source". NBC 6 South Florida. Archived from the original on 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
- ^ a b c "5 Miami Beach Officers Face Battery Charges in Rough Arrests Caught on Camera at Hotel". NBC 6 South Florida. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
- ^ a b "3 Miami Beach officers face felony charges in rough arrests". Associated Press. 2021-09-23. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
- ^ Rabin, Charles (August 2, 2021). "Five Miami Beach cops charged after pummeling two men in hotel lobby. Video released". Miami Herald. Retrieved August 2, 2021.