Miami Beach Officer Fires Gun, Incident Under Investigation
MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) – Miami Beach Police are investigating a shooting that involved one of their own officers who was on patrol when she fired her weapon.
The Miami Beach Police officer was responding to a domestic dispute call Monday night around 11:30 p.m. when the incident took place.
According to investigators, the officer fired at least one shot in a parking lot near 17th and Washington. The bullet shattered the passenger side window of a car there.
No one was hurt in the shooting.
There were three people detained, according to MBPD, but nobody was arrested. Specifics on why the officer fired the gun are still not clear.
A woman near the scene of the gunfire told CBS4 that a bullet or bullet fragment flattened her tire.
"It was a minor altercation, the police jumped out of the car and the police officer shot the gun, almost killed us and now our tire is flat and we can't get home and that's what happened. She accidentally shot it is what she said but how do you accidentally shoot a gun is what I don't understand and a police officer at that."
A tourist, who didn't want to give his name, said he heard the shot and also heard a man yelling.
Despite the dangerous incident, overall officers have responded to far fewer crimes during Urban Beach Week than previous years.
They've made less than half as many arrests as they did in 2013 and most of the arrests were for misdemeanors like alcohol violations, disorderly conduct, and small drug deals.
The lower numbers may be in part due to smaller crowds at Urban Beach Week than years prior.
Police are still investigating what caused the officer to fire the gun.
Typically, according to police, when an officer discharges their firearm they are put on paid administrative leave for three days while they continue to investigate.
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