Video shows student kick officer at Homestead Senior High School

Shardae Pittman, 18, arrested for battery caught on video

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – After a chaotic fight among teenagers, a video shows a Homestead Senior High School 18-year-old student kicking an officer in the face Thursday. The Miami-Dade County Public Schools Police Department officer was responding to a report that five girls were fighting during lunch time.

As he pinned a 17-year-old girl who was laying face-down on the floor, a video shows Shardae Yvonne Pittman, 18, tried to defend her. Pittman first pushed the officer, but the officer didn't fall down. A man who appeared to be a teacher tried to hold Pittman back, but she persisted. 

The video shows Pittman kicked the officer in the face as the school district employee pushed her away from him. John Shuster, a spokesman for Miami-Dade County Public Schools said the officer was not hospitalized. 

"Any behavior that endangers the well-being of students and staff at Miami-Dade County Public Schools will not be tolerated, will be handled swiftly and result in severe consequences," Daisy Gonzalez-Diego, a spokeswoman for the district, said in a statement. 

A police report identified incident's victim as Officer Zapico. Miami-Dade County Public Schools Police Chief Edwin Lopez released a statement Thursday night on Twitter. 

"It is a shame that while this officer was attempting to break up a fight and maintain a safe learning environment, this adult student acted in a cowardly way," Lopez wrote.  

Pittman was not part of the initial fight, police said.

Sharnell Lee, the mother of the 17-year-old girl Zapico was pinning down, said Pittman is her daughter's friend. Lee was at the school demanding answers and later picked up her daughter from a juvenile facility Thursday night saying she wants the girls who attacked her daughter to also face charges. 

"My daughter comes to school, she is supposed to be safe," Lee said. "Where was the security? Where was everybody when [the fight] took place? Why did she get in trouble? Why would a police officer have my daughter on the ground and allow the other young lady to spit in her face?"

Four of the girls will face disciplinary action. Lee's daughter and Pittman, who was at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center Thursday night, both face battery on a law enforcement officer charges. Pittman was also charged with educational interference. 

 


About the Authors:

Christian De La Rosa joined Local 10 News in April 2017 after spending time as a reporter and anchor in Atlanta, San Diego, Orlando and Panama City Beach.

Liane Morejon is an Emmy-winning reporter who joined the Local 10 News family in January 2010. Born and raised in Coral Gables, Liane has a unique perspective on covering news in her own backyard.