Former Police Officer Sentenced To 30 Days In Jail After Sucker Punching Valet
Ex-officer gets 30 days for sucker punching parking valet
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A former police officer was sentenced to 30 days in jail after he was convicted of sucker punching a hotel valet in an altercation that was caught on camera.
A Fort Lauderdale jury found former suburban Atlanta police officer John Kiernan guilty Wednesday of misdemeanor battery for punching Rodolfo Rodriguez in July 2017.
The 39-year-old New Smyrna Beach resident had been arguing over an $18 parking charge.
Video showed Rodriguez was standing with his hands in his pockets when Kiernan suddenly punched him, knocking Rodriguez cold.
Kiernan testified that he felt threatened and that Rodriguez had threatened to fight him.
But Judge Robert F. Diaz called the punch "cold, calculated" and that Rodriguez had done nothing to deserve it.
He also sentenced Kiernan to a year's probation and an anger management course.
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
