A Miami Beach officer filmed by a suspect hitting a suspect and being investigated

A Miami Beach policeman was filmed for suddenly punching a suspect's face, officials said on Wednesday.

] The police department's internal affairs unit opened an investigation after NBC Miami aired footage showing a meeting between Lowell Lavaine Poitier, 35, and police officer Adriel Dominguez, officials said. .

Officers were summoned to the Pelican Hotel. December 3 in Miami Beach, following a complaint that a man identified in the police report as Poitier was causing trouble and did not leave, said officials.

The video, which comes from the camera of another officer's body, seems to show Poitier walking and cursing before approaching Dominguez's face and saying "What ? "

The officer then suddenly launches a powerful right hand on the left side of Poitier.

Agent Dominguez, in his representative, justifies his use of force, claiming that Poitier behaved "aggressively" and "clenched his fists" as if he was ready to attack.

"Dominguez feared for his safety and struck the [defendant] closed punch with his right hand, which came into contact with the left side of the face [defendant’s]," writes the policeman.

Before the punch, Poitier had also called the police "pirates," according to the police report.

The video was provided to NBC Miami by Michael Pizzi, a lawyer who claimed to represent another police officer who had presented the film and wished to be protected. Whistleblower.

Poitier was taken to hospital for treatment before being held in police custody, suspected of assaulting a police officer, having resisted a police officer without violence and to have acted in a disorderly manner, said the police report. He was later released on bail.

"I was informed of this incident this morning. This is obviously a very serious matter, "said Miami Beach Police Chief Dan Oates on Wednesday.

" Under my leadership, our home affairs unit immediately launched an investigation. We also notified the Miami-Dade Attorney's Office. The officer was relieved of his patrol duties.

The police union representing the agent said in a statement that he "fully supports and defends the actions of the agent Dominguez" against a "agitated, angry and physically aggressive accused" "

" There is no doubt that the agent Dominguez was legally justified and fully empowered to protect himself, "said the Fraternal Police College of Miami Beach. "We are confident that a fair and thorough investigation will enable Agent Dominguez to be cleared of any wrongdoing."