A Hollywood Police officer is facing a battery charge after he was captured on a home security camera hitting a handcuffed suspect, prosecutors said Friday.
Prosecutors filed the first-degree misdemeanor charge against 34-year-old Matthew Joseph Barbieri on Thursday, Broward State Attorney Mike Satz said.
An arrest affidavit said Barbieri and another officer had been dispatched to a domestic disturbance call at a home in the 2400 block of Cleveland Street on Aug. 6 when they took a man into custody during a confrontation.
During the arrest, Barbieri was seen on the video hitting the suspect in the face twice, "before placing his left hand on [the suspect's] throat as [the suspect] slides down the wall to the ground," the affidavit said.
Later, while Barbieri was in the camera's view, he's heard telling another officer "I'm gonna have to say that he was kicking," the affidavit said.
The suspect was charged with possession of heroin.
Hollywood Police officials said an internal affairs investigation was commenced and Barbieri was relieved of duty.
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"Upon discovery of the video evidence on the night of the incident, supervisory personnel responded to the scene and immediately notified the appropriate chain of command," police said in a statement.
Officials said the internal affairs investigation remains ongoing.
"When I was made aware of this incident, I was extremely disappointed, and immediately relieved the officer of all departmental duties. I also initiated an internal affairs investigation, which led to the officer being charged criminally. We serve our community with integrity and accountability. As peace officers we hold our duties to the people we serve to the highest standards," Hollywood Police Chief Chris O'Brien said in a statement Friday. "The actions committed by this officer in no way represent the core values which we pride ourselves in each and every day. I believe in our system of checks and balances, which were implemented to ensure officers who commit acts such as this, are identified and held accountable."
Barbieri is scheduled to appear in Broward County court later this month. Attorney information wasn't available.
