Video prompts prosecutors to drop charges against Miami protester dressed as chicken

Miami-Dade County prosecutors announced Tuesday that they decided to drop the charges against a man who dressed up like a chicken during a recent protest in Miami.

Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Lizzet Martinez presided over Morgan Dmitrimahan Gianola’s short virtual hearing to discuss his misdemeanors case with Assistant State Attorney Michael C. Fente and Attorney David Winker, who represented Gianola.

“Last week we asked to reset arraignment pending further review of the officers’ body work camera footage. Based on that review, judge, the state is electing not to proceed on these charges,” Fente said during the hearing.

The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office released about three hours and 20 minutes of police video showing officers arresting and processing Gianola, who asked police officers a series of questions.

“What do you think I have done? Who are you protecting and serving?”

Police officers arrested Gianola, 31, on Feb. 11, at Maurice A. Ferré Park, at 1075 Biscayne Blvd., accusing him of resisting an officer without violence, trespass after warning, and disorderly conduct, according to the arrest report.

“It’s a public park,” Gianola told police officers during his arrest.

Gianola was not alone in his protest against Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo. According to the arrest form, he was with four others who were also dressed up as chickens while they made clucking noises and five who were recording their actions.

A woman held up a sign that read, “Wifebeater Carollo”

Videos show Gianola, a University of Miami researcher and local Democratic Party activist, and his companions displaying a mugshot showing Carollo after he was arrested for domestic violence in 2001.

“It is common practice for State Attorney’s Offices across the country to drop charges on most minor misdemeanor arrests. That does not mean, however, that this arrest was not legal, pursuant to the arrest report that I read,” Carrollo said in a statement. “I was giving certificates of appreciation to local artists while this all occurred.”

Some of the police videos’ audio of the communication between police officers preceding the arrest was muted.

Police bodycam video shows protester’s arrest in Miami

Raw video from officer’s body-worn camera (About 40 minutes)

This is a developing story. We are preparing to publish the totality of the police bodycam video that prosecutors reported reviewed in the case.

Watch the 12 p.m. report

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