Miami Police Officer Filmed Kicking Handcuffed Black Teen in Face (+Video)
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - A cellphone video was released on Thursday showing a white Miami-Dade police officer kicking a handcuffed black teenager in the head.
CBS Miami reported that Sgt. Gustavo De Los Rios, 38, was charged with a misdemeanor for the kicking of a handcuffed suspect, which took place in Miami Lakes on Valentine's Day.
The video, which was made public by the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office, shows several officers arresting David Brown, then De Los Rios kicking him once, then dropping his knee on Brown's neck.
De Los Rios was relieved of duty with pay at the time.
Brown's parents said they still want answers.
According to police, officers pulled over a teenager wanted for burglary, and the teen -- Brown -- fought officers who tried to use their Taser.
Eventually, Brown was placed on the ground on his stomach with he hands handcuffed behind his back. That's when, prosecutors say, De Los Rios crossed the line.
"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.
The kick didn't seriously injure Brown, but Fernandez-Rundle says that's beside the point. "That is unacceptable and intolerable and that's why we charged him."