MIRAMAR, Fla. — The Broward Sheriff’s Office is investigating its own deputy due to body camera video showing an apparent rough arrest.
It apparently shows the deputy using handcuffs to punch a suspect who was already being detained.
The attorney representing the man arrested says this was a rough arrest that rises to the level of excessive force. Now the cases is under review.
It was July of last year when police were called out to a domestic dispute involving 20-year-old Ka’traughan Dones.
He is seen in body camera video angry and combative with authorities. Body camera also captured Dones’ girlfriend, who called 911, talking to a deputy.
At one point, a deputy approaches Dones to detain him.
Gordon Weekes, Public Defender in Broward County and Dones’ lawyer, says it’s at that time the deputy punched his client using handcuffs, and that should be considered excessive force.
“This was a very troubling incident where an officer used handcuffs in a brass knuckle fashion and punched someone in their head,” said Weekes.
Weekes says Dones was subdued at that point and under the deputy control and this was not necessary.
Dones can be seen in his mugshot with a black eye after the arrest.
The police report does say: “In an attempt to have Dones comply, I struck him with a close fist to the left side of his face,” but never mentions handcuffs.
The deputy does mention a possible injury to his hand.
Weekes sent a letter to the State Attorney’s Office to investigate if this is, in fact, excessive force and determine if it should be considered criminal.
“Whether that crosses the line into criminality is for the State Attorney’s Office and the (Broward) Sheriff’s Office to determine, but it is egregious by the officer,” said Weekes.
The domestic charge Dones was facing has since been dropped but he is facing other charges related to this incident.
BSO said the department is investigating and the incident would be forwarded to BSO’s Use of Force Review Board.
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