MIAMI – A Miami-Dade police officer caught on video hitting an intoxicated fan being removed from Hard Rock Stadium has reportedly been cleared of wrongdoing.
The Herald reports Officer Douglas Ross was acting within departmental rules when he was removing Bridget Freitas, 30, from the stands of a Miami Hurricanes game on Nov. 4.
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In the video, several officers can be seen attempting to take an unruly Freitas from the stands after she was cursing and fighting with other fans.
While an unruly Freitas was being carried out, she hit Ross in the eye with her hand. Ross responded by hitting Freitas with his right hand, although it cannot be verified whether it was a punch or slap.
In the police report, Freitas stated she was not injured during the event and in an interrogation, admitted to being intoxicated and did not remember striking Ross.
The report claims Ross, an 18-year veteran, was never investigated by Miami-Dade police Internal Affairs as Freitas never filed a complaint.
“Did it look pretty? No,” Miami-Dade police Director Juan Perez told the Herald. “But he instinctively reacted to being hit in the face.”