Father says handcuffed man in police-kicking video has schizophrenia

Coral Springs police accuses handcuffed man of reaching for officer's gun

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. ā€“ After visiting his son in the main Broward County jail, DJennyĀ Narcisse said it sickened him to know a Coral Springs police officerĀ kickedĀ his son while in handcuffs. He said his son, who is mentally ill, often refuses to take his medication.Ā 

Two witnesses recorded the recent arrest of his 28-year-old son, Gabriel Narcisse-Beckford, who was accused of shoplifting in Davie.Ā Both videos show Narcisse-Beckford was sitting down on the curbĀ with two officers when two otherĀ officers approached.Ā 

One of the videos appears to showĀ one of the officersĀ kicking him twice. The other video showsĀ Narcisse-Beckford falling back. The Coral Springs Police Department suspended the four officers involved in the arrest pending an investigation.Ā 

"A kick to the head could actually kill him," the distraught father said Thursday.Ā 

NarcisseĀ also said his son was diagnosed with schizophrenia,Ā a serious mental illness that interferes with a person's ability to think clearly, manage emotions andĀ make decisions. NarcisseĀ said he didn't realize his sonĀ had left the house, had beenĀ arrested orĀ that there were witnesses questioning the officer's actions.Ā 

According to the police report of the Tuesday night arrest, an officer deployed a Taser gun and, during a scuffle,Ā Narcisse-Beckford was reaching for one of the officer's firearms.Ā 

The twoĀ witnesses, who did not want to be identified over fear of reprisal, said they saw anĀ officer kick Narcisse-Beckford. One said he heard the officer'sĀ colleague asking him to stop.

Chief Clyde PerryĀ said Wednesday night that he contacted the state attorney's office after watching one of the videos of the arrest.

"I wasn't happy with what I saw,"Ā Perry said.

Narcisse-Beckford faces charges of petitĀ theft, resisting arrest, obstruction of justiceĀ and battery on a police officer.Ā 

NarcisseĀ said he believes the officer who kicked his son should take responsibility for what he did.

"He's not above the law," he said.


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.

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.