Videos appears to show Coral Springs police officer kicking man in handcuffs

Officers involved in arrest placed on administrative leave, chief says

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – A witness' video appears to show a Coral Springs police officer kicking a man in handcuffs. Another witness' video from another angle shows the man in handcuffs falling back. 

Both videos show Gabriel Narcisse Beckford was sitting down on the curb with two officers when two other officers approached. One video appears to show one of the officers kicking him twice.

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

"I felt really horrible," one of the witnesses said. 

Narcisse Beckford was arrested Tuesday on West Sample Road, accused of petit theft.The Coral Springs Police Department is investigating the officer's actions during Narcisse Beckford's arrest.

Chief Clyde Perry said Wednesday the four officers involved in Narcisse Beckford's arrest have been placed on administrative leave. 

"I wasn't happy with what I saw," Perry said about an hour after watching the first video released to Local 10 News. "I immediately made contact with the State Attorney's Office and conferred with them."

A witness released the second video to Local 10 News after the first one was published on Local10.com. 

The department is hosting a community outreach event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Stefano's Kosher, 9321 W. Sample Road. 

 


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.