Surveillance video shows arrest of Miami police officer

Jose Acosta, 22, accused of stealing from people during traffic stops

MIAMI – Surveillance video released Tuesday shows a rookie Miami police officer being arrested last week in front of his Little Havana apartment.

Jose Acosta, 22, was arrested Friday night on charges of armed burglary of an unoccupied conveyance and third-degree armed grand theft.

The video shows Acosta pulling up to his apartment in his Miami police cruiser while undercover officers follow him in a white SUV.

Several of them get out and Acosta is led away in handcuffs.

Investigators said they watched as Acosta conducted five traffic stops with no probable cause and searched people's cars.

One of those people was an undercover agent who was working a sting operation set up after police said citizens complained about the officer stealing from them in February.

File: Miami police Officer Jose Acosta arrest report

According to an arrest report, Acosta searched the undercover agent, took $1,250 from his pocket and vehicle and let him go.

He ended his shift Friday night without declaring any of the confiscated property, the report said.

Acosta is out of jail on bond.  

After knocking on the door of his apartment Tuesday morning, a woman answered, but had no interest in talking about the arrest.

The Miami chief of police and state attorney for Miami-Dade County said Acosta will be held accountable, and the city will not tolerate any employee's betrayal of the public trust.

Acosta has been fired from the Miami Police Department.

 


About the Authors:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.