Video shows police officer kicking handcuffed teen on the ground

Officials released cellphone video this week showing a Florida police officer hitting a handcuffed teen suspect during an arrest last year.

The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office released the footage on Thursday as part of a criminal case against Miami-Dade Sgt. Gustavo De Los Rios, 38, who is accused of kicking handcuffed burglary suspect David Brown, CBS Miami reported.

At the time of the incident, officials put De Los Rios on paid leave. De Los Rios was charged with misdemeanor battery in August, the Miami Herald Reported. He pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.

An arrest report from the incident reveals police pulled Brown over for his role in an alleged burglary.

Brown attempted to run from the cops, who tased him in the back. Cops then pushed Brown to the ground, where Brown punched and kicked, hitting De Los Rios several times in the chest, the arrest report states. The teen was charged with burglary in relation to an alleged break-in in January as well as battery on a police officer and resisting arrest.

The report makes no mention of De Los Rios kicking the teen, but two women standing outside a nearby store managed to capture the alleged battery with their cellphones.

“Right after he put the handcuffs on. He’s down on the ground. He’s not moving. He’s under control. The officer just comes and gives him a kick, with what I believe is his right foot, to the left side of his face,” State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle said.

Brown was not seriously injured during the arrest, but Fernandez-Rundle argues De Los Rios’ actions are still “unacceptable.“

This is not the first time De Los Rios has been accused of stepping over the line. Last year, De Los Rios allegedly attacked his ex-wife with a bottle and hit her, although she declined to press charges, the Miami Herald reported.

In 2015, he reportedly used his status as a law enforcement officer to obtain information about his ex-wife’s travel plans. The same woman also sought a restraining order against De Los Rios in 2014, according to Broward court records obtained by the Miami Herald.

via: https://nypost.com/2019/01/04/video-shows-police-officer-kicking-handcuffed-teen-on-the-ground/