Miami Officer May Have Violated Federal Law

A Miami law enforcement officer is facing potential charges after he allegedly placed a doctor in handcuffs while lacking proper cause, a violation of federal law. The doctor, a physician at the University of Miami was questioned alongside a local activist outside of his residence.

Under the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution, according to case law cited by the Civilian Investigative Panel (CIP), when someone is arrested by an officer, the extent of detention needs to be explained by the facts of the case. The Fourth Amendment defends against arbitrary search and seizure of individuals. Members of the CIP expressed their concerns after watching video of the incident that the officer did not give a reason for handcuffing the doctor. The doctor was acting in a manner that could be deemed aggressive and, therefore, the actions taken by the officer were unreasonable.

In the midst of a moment of greater examination of police conduct, the footage of the encounter generated national headlines, and a Miami Police Department Internal Affairs report found the officer had broken protocols by failing to contact dispatchers at his stop as well as failing to wear a mask.

This update is published by The Law Offices of Mark Eiglarsh, a Fort Lauderdale criminal defense lawyer. Areas of practice include criminal defense, white collar crimes, federal and state drug crimes, fraud, DUI, sex crimes, domestic violence, and more. With over two decades of experience, Mark is committed to obtaining the best possible outcome for his valued clients under difficult circumstances. For more information or to schedule a consultation, please call 954-500-0003 in Broward or 305-674-0003 in Miami.

This information is provided for educational or informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to substitute for legal advice.