Florida officers charged after separate instances of misconduct

Three South Florida police officers are facing charges after investigations by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement revealed wrongdoing in three separate instances captured on police body cams.

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle held a press conference Wednesday to announce the charges against Miami Gardens police officer Javier Castano, Opa-locka Police Captain Sergio Perez, and Miami-Dade police officer Joseph Diaz.

In the case of Javier Castano, body cam footage shows the Miami Gardens officer kicking a suspect in the head while the suspect was subdued on the ground.

Castano was among a group of officers who responded to a complaint about a driver doing donuts in the parking lot of a RaceTrac gas station in March of 2020.

Footage shows Castano kicking the suspected driver's friend, Miguel McKay, in the face; causing injury to the suspect by putting a knee to the man's neck.

Castano was relieved of duty after the fact and is charged with two counts of misdemeanor battery.

Charges against Opa-locka Police Captain Sergio Perez were also announced Wednesday, after Perez shot a fellow officer with a Taser during a shouting match in September of 2021.

According to FDLE, Perez asked Sgt. Michael Steel if he wanted to be taser certified. When Steel said no, Perez tased him in the back right side.

Because Steel was in his office and not wearing a protective suit, he was visibly wounded.

Fernandez Rundle said of the tasing, “this incident did not occur pursuant to any tasing certification training. This has nothing to do with something happening during training."

The final charges announced Wednesday involve Miami-Dade police officer Joseph Diaz, who was charged with felony misconduct for lying on a July 2020 arrest report.

On July 25th, 2020, Diaz responded to a report of an intoxicated man who was loitering outside of the Country Club Towers Apartments.

Body cam footage shows Diaz having a conversation with the suspect at first, but as the suspect walks away, he insults Diaz.

Diaz ordered the man to put his hands behind his back and get on the ground, but when he didn't comply, Diaz grabbed the man's shoulder, pushing and shoving him during the arrest.

Diaz falsely alleged the man was excessively aggressive, screamed at the top of his lungs, stumbled into the road, and took an aggressive stance.

Officer Diaz is charged with felony official misconduct for lying on the arrest report. He also faces a misdemeanor charge.

Fernandez Rundle said body cameras were instrumental in two of these cases and have been an incredible tool for everybody.
--------------------
Keep me motivated by donating to https://paypal.me/thisisbutter

Viewer discretion is always advised when watching this video or any others videos. I do not take any responsibility for your trauma, psychological and/or mental harm.

I do not recommend anyone to attempt, act/reproduce, and/or create hate from what you see in this video or any other videos.

Enjoy.