FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A homeless man who was seen on video being slapped by a Fort Lauderdale police officer spent 20 hours in jail after being arrested at the Broward County bus terminal.
Bruce Laclair, 58, told Local 10 News on Tuesday morning that he has been homeless for six months and now must pay $293 for court costs associated with the trespassing charge. He said a bruise on the left side of his head is from the incident.
"I'm in pain," Laclair said. "I'm pissed and I'm in pain."
Laclair was arrested by Officer Victor Ramirez for loitering near the bus terminal off Broward Boulevard and Andrews Avenue. A bystander used his cellphone to record video of Ramirez shoving Laclair to the ground and slapping him.
"He pushed me to the ground," Laclair said. "Then he punched me in the face."
Laclair was released from jail Monday night.
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Ramirez has been relieved of duty with pay as the Fort Lauderdale Police Department investigates.
"We now get an opportunity to respond to this serious incident," Chief Frank Adderley said during a news conference Tuesday morning.
Adderley said his department "will be looking at a criminal allegation, and then we will be conducting an administrative review."
City Manager Lee Feldman called the video "clearly disturbing."
"It is not representative of the type of actions that anybody wants our police department to be perceived as conducting," Feldman said.
Laclair said he has respect for law enforcement "to the utmost."
"This guy, he's got a problem," Laclair said.
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