Ex-Miami Beach Cop, Cleared in Shooting, Arrested Again
MIAMI (CBS4) -Former Miami Beach police officer Adam Tavss, cleared 2 months ago in the 2009 shooting of tourist Husien Shehada, is back behind bars for allegedly attacking his former girlfriend, and violating probation on a marijuana charge.
Tavss was arrested Sunday morning by Doral Police, and charged with False Imprisonment and Battery. Appearing in Miami-Dade bond court Monday morning, Tavss was held on a $6,500 bond, but it was his past brush with the law that caused the former cop the most problems.
He had been placed on probation for two years after he was arrested and charged with growing marijuana. He was spared jail time so long as he didn't get into further trouble with the law.
With his weekend arrest on the battery and false imprisonment charge, the judge said he had appeared to have violated his probation, and ordered him held without bond on that charge.
In court, Tavss said his arrest was because of a dispute with ex-girlfriend Angelica Ramos, with whom he shares a child.
According to the police report, Tavss allegedly "punched her and pulled her to the ground by her hair. The defendant then bit the victim on her arm."
She also told police he forced her onto the apartment's balcony and would not let her leave.
Miami-Dade prosecutors cleared Tavss in the shooting, saying he was justified in using deadly force when he shot Shehada two years ago.
Prosecutors said that Tavss "likely was led to believe that his life or the lives of others was in danger" when he shot Shehada.
Relatives said the shooting was wrong and cited the fact that just four days later, Tavss was a part of another police-involved shooting. The Shehada's attorney, John Contini, predicted a civil jury will side with the family.
(© MMXI CBS Television Stations. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
