The Miami Gardens Police Department is investigating a video that shows one of its officers slamming a teen girl to the ground during an arrest earlier this month.
The cellphone video posted on social media shows the April 18 arrest of the 16-year-old girl near St. Monica's Catholic Church, in the area of 191st Street and 34th Avenue. Officers had responded to reports of a disturbance in the area.
The footage begins with the officer pushing the girl up against a chain link fence, then throwing her to the ground. The officer then holds the girl down as an onlooker is heard yelling "what are you doing?"
More officers help put the girl in handcuffs, and the video ends with the girl being walked to a patrol vehicle.
Friends of the girl's family told NBC 6 that she suffered an injury to her hand. It was unknown what she was charged with.
"When I first saw the video, I was like what? Bam, that to a child? It makes me feel like he profiled because she had a hoodie on...he didn't realize she's a girl," said the girl's grandmother, who didn't want to be identified.
In a statement released Thursday night, Miami Gardens Police said the incident remains under investigation.
"The investigation will include a review of all actions, to include those of the officer and the individual, who was arrested," the statement read. "We are asking that the public not rush to judgment, as these incidents must be fully investigated to ensure fairness to everyone involved."
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The incident happened the same day an altercation between Broward Sheriff's Office deputies and a teen in Tamarac was caught on camera. Two deputies involved in the incident have been suspended while it's being investigated.
