Police Department Identifies Officer Pulled Over For Allegedly Speeding
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- A Miami-Dade police officer pulled over by a woman who said he was speeding has been identified by his department.
With a determined stride, and video evidence in hand Claudia Castillo walked into the Miami-Dade Police internal affairs division in Miami Gardens Monday afternoon to file a complaint.
"I think this merits some attention at a county-wide level," she told CBS4's Natalia Zea.
She wanted IA to investigate the driving habit of one of their colleagues who she says she caught speeding with no lights or siren.
"He passed me like I was standing still," said Castillo.
Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez released a statement on the matter saying, "The Miami Dade Police Department will have his immediate command staff investigate the matter, once the officer and citizen are identified. The appropriate course of action will be taken at that point."
Late Monday evening, the Miami-Dade Police Department identified the officer as Daniel Fonticiella who works at PortMiami.
The video shows the pursuit and interaction with the cop.
"The reason I pulled you over today...You were pushing 90 miles per hour," you hear her say in the video.
The dreaded words you expect to hear during a traffic stop but this time the tables were turned.
Castillo said she was running an errand Friday afternoon--when a squad car sped past her.
"The cop past me so fast my car shook....and I got upset. I started speeding up and I stopped at 80," said Castillo who decided to pull him over.
She started honking and flashing her lights to get him to stop.
It was all caught on camera. She put her cell phone on the dash stand and started recording the pursuit, narrating along the way.
"He's been driving recklessly. He was going about 100 miles an hour 'cause I was hitting 80 and I could not catch up to him," said Castillo.
She followed him on the Palmetto Expressway (SR-826), then the Dolphin Expressway (SR-836) – eventually catching up and getting his attention near I-95.
In the video, you could hear her saying, "The reason I pulled you over today.... I just wanted to know, what's the emergency?"
Fonticiella replied, "Um, I don't know how fast I was going? But I can tell you this: I'm on my way to work right now. I don't believe I was speeding. Everything fine?"
"Everything's fine. It's your speeding," said Castillo.
"Well, then I apologize. I'll be sure to slow down. Do you want my name or badge," asked Fonticiella.
Castillo replied, "No, It's just I think we all set an example."
"I agree. Take care. Be safe," said Fonticiella.
The video went viral after Castillo posted it on YouTube, catching the department's attention.
Castillo says she didn't post the video to personally attack the officer. She was just hoping for some accountability.
"I'm sure he's a nice guy but nobody's above the law," said Castillo.
Police say Castillo will not be reprimanded for the chase.
Miami-Dade Police Union President John Rivera says Fonticiella should be commended for his professionalism, and that there is no proof the officer was speeding.
He also pointed out that officers receive training to drive fast.
"Assume for a second the officer was wrong. He's still trained at high speeds. She's not," said Rivera.
Castillo says she drove safely, and backed off as soon as she reached 80 miles an hour.
She says she can't remember the last time she got a speeding ticket, and insists she has no personal vendetta against law enforcement. She says this is only about safety.
"Police officers speed all the time. That should not be an acceptable modus operandus [sic]. That's not the way it works. That's not the way it should work," said Castillo.
