Surveillance video shows Hollywood police officer punching handcuffed suspect

Officer Matthew Barbieri charged with battery

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Surveillance video shows the moment a Hollywood police officer struck a handcuffed suspect.

Authorities are hoping the ensuing internal affairs investigation will bring some sort of change.

The incident took place Aug. 6 in an apartment on Cleveland Street in Hollywood.

The victim's home surveillance footage, seen by police, launched an internal affairs investigation. 

That investigation led to an officer facing criminal charges. 

In the video, resident Raymond Schachner yells, while handcuffed, that the officers had no warrant nor permission to search his home. That's when the officer punches Schachner several times. 

That officer, identified as Matthew Barbieri, is facing battery charges.

"Do I feel bad for the guy? No, not really," Schachner said. "Because, you know, he's going to have a little bit more better understanding (of) what happens to the rest of us when people get arrested."

Raymond Schachner was handcuffed when he was punched several times by a Hollywood police officer.

Schachner was arrested after police received a call of a man yelling and acting erratically at Schachner's home. 

According to the arrest form, Schachner's door was cracked open and police saw him with heroin paraphernalia in his bathroom.

Schachner disputes that account, showing Local 10 News that his bathroom can't be seen from the door.

"All of a sudden the bathroom door comes flying open, and I'm grabbed," Schachner said. 

Hollywood police worked closely with Broward County prosecutors, resulting in the criminal charges. 

Hollywood Police Chief Chris O'Brien called the incident disappointing and said he immediately relieved the officer of all departmental duties and initiated the internal affairs investigation. 

"The actions committed by this officer in no way represent the core values which we pride ourselves in each and every day," O'Brien said. "I believe in our system of checks and balances, which were implemented to ensure officers who commit acts such as this, are identified and held accountable."

The internal affairs investigation is ongoing.


About the Author:

Saira Anwer joined the Local 10 News team in July 2018. Saira is two-time Emmy-nominated reporter and comes to South Florida from Madison, Wisconsin, where she was working as a reporter and anchor.