Coral Springs Officer Accused Of Kicking Handcuffed Man
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CORAL SPRINGS (CBSMiami) — A handful of Coral Springs officers have been placed on administrative leave after a video surfaced allegedly showing one of them kicking a man who is handcuffed and sitting on the ground.
The video, shot by a witness, shows police use a Taser on the man, identified as Gabriel Narcisse-Beckford, as they try to subdue him.
He is then walked to the curb and ordered to sit down. After he did, the video shows one officer apparently kick him several times. The kicks were to the man's face, according to the witness.
The Coral Springs police department released the following statement on Twitter.
We have seen the video of an incident involving some of our officers. We take this matter very seriously. Due to the gravity of the situation we are conducting a criminal investigation. At this time all the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave.
— Coral Springs Police (@CoralSpringsPD) December 5, 2018
Four officers have since been placed on paid administrative leave.
According to the police, officers were sent to the 7-24 Sun Mart on Sample Road on Dec. 4th, just after 10 p.m., in response to a man that was reportedly shoplifting.
Arriving officers spotted Narcisse-Beckford walking away from the store and attempted to stop him because he matched the clerk's description of the shoplifter.
Police say Narcisse-Beckford walked away from the officers who repeatedly ordered him to stop as he walked to Sample Road. One officer tried to stop him by grabbing his arm, but Narcisse-Beckford reportedly pulled away and walked into traffic on the road.
Several cars were forced to stop as two officers attempted to stop Narcisse-Beckford. As they struggled, one of the officers hit Narcisse-Beckford with a closed fist. As they fell to the ground, Narcisse-Beckford, who is 6'2" and weighs around 300 pounds, landed on one of the officers.
Narcisse-Beckford tried to take the officer's gun while the two were on the ground, according to his arrest report.
When Narcisse-Beckford he was struck by a Taser fired by another officer. He then fell to the ground.
After a brief struggle, officers were able to handcuff Narcisse-Beckford, walked him to the curb and sat him down.
Police say Narcisse-Beckford "continued to be agitated and yelled." At one point, one of the detectives thought he was trying to stand up so he struck him with his knee on his right side so he would remain seated.
The store clerk positively identified Narcisse-Beckford as the person he saw stealing a soda and candy bar, according to the arrest report.
Narcisse-Beckford was taken to Broward Health Coral Springs Hospital to be checked out. During the trip there, he told the officers that he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia and was not taking his medications.
Narcisse-Beckford was charged with shoplifting, battery on a law enforcement officer, attempting to deprive an officer of a means of protection, and resisting arrest with violence.
He's being held on $2000 bond.