A civilian investigative panel determined Friday that it believes Miami police used excessive force in a body camera video that shows officers forcefully arresting an armed robbery suspect back in May 2017.
The city of Miami has a process where complaints involving excessive force are heard by a civilian investigative panel. The panel determined the Miami Police Department officers in the video also used improper procedures and exercised negligence of duty in the arrest of Ravon Boyd.
This moves the complaint a step closer to possible discipline for the officers.
Boyd's attorney says the video shows an officer running at Boyd and kicking him in the head. The officer, identified as Sgt. Claude Adam, later told investigators that he was kicking at an item on the ground that he initially believed was a weapon, the report said.
"Ravon gave himself up. He got on the ground, he showed his hands, and yet he was still beaten," attorney Andrew Rier said.
Another officer who initially investigated the complaint is accused of not doing a thorough investigation. The panel could recommend to Miami police that should face discipline, too.
The committee also believes a third officer did not turn his body cam on soon enough in the encounter.
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A fourth officer is not being investigated because he left the department.
Boyd was charged with strong arm robbery, possession of cannabis and resisting arrest with violence. He was later convicted and remains behind bars, scheduled to be released from prison in 2020.
