CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Coral Gables police Maj. Theresa Molina, who was accused of spying on a resident at this week's Coral Gables City Commission meeting, is now off the job and suspended with pay.
"I found a police major was keeping track. Are we under surveillance here?" Maria Cruz asked the commission Wednesday. "Do I need to get a security company to protect me?"
The resident in question reported the incident to the commission moments after it allegedly happened.
People at the meeting claimed to see Molina looking at and photographing Cruz's text messages from behind her. Those messages were sent to different commissioners who requested that Cruz be able to give public comment. Among them was Commissioner Vince Lago.
"Every single resident can have a conversation with me at any time of the day," Lago said.
Lago went on to reprimand the major just out of the camera's view.
"Right now, the interaction you had with that resident is completely and utterly inappropriate," Lago said at the meeting. "You shouldn't even be having a discussion like that, because at the end of the day, you're too much of a professional to be interacting with a resident in that capacity."
On Friday, Local 10 News spoke to Cruz, who claims Molina didn't want her to speak because Cruz has expressed concerns about the city's public safety director in the past.
"I don't think there is room in this city," Cruz said.
It's unclear when the internal affairs investigation will be complete.