Former Hollywood police officer accused of slapping handcuffed suspect found not guilty
MIAMI – Former Hollywood police officer Matthew Barbieri has been found not guilty of battery after he was caught on camera striking a handcuffed suspect.
According to police reports, on August 6th, 2019, officer Barbieri and his partner responded to the Hollywood home for a domestic disturbance.
The victim, Raymond Schachner, said he was naked in his bathroom with drugs when police arrived.
Barbieri claims when he went inside, he saw Schachner screaming and acting erratically.
He says Schachner then lunged at him as he was trying to preserve evidence. That's when prosecutors say surveillance video captured Barbieri striking the victim twice even though he was handcuffed.
When other officers arrived on scene, they testified they heard screaming from inside the home.
"I could hear him yelling at the subject. It was obvious he was under the influence of something. He's not going to respond to yelling. Most people don't respond to that," says Ryan Barclay, a Hollywood police officer.
The jury reached the not guilty verdict after three hours of deliberations.
CBS4 asked Barbieri if he would try to get his job back. he did not answer.
We also asked his attorney.
"His job, it's a question he's going to have to wrestle with the city of Hollywood. I think a not guilty on the charge that he was suspended because of that, would seem to make it favorable for him to do that. That's something between him and the city. He's got a lawyer to do that," said David Bogenschutz.
