Sarasota officer is put on administrative leave after the review of several video’s of the officer kneeling on man’s neck during arrest
SPD
On June 1, 2020, the Sarasota Police Department was tagged in a social media post showing a portion of a video with our Officers arresting an individual on May 18, 2020. After viewing several videos, Chief DiPino immediately initiated a formal Internal Affairs investigation and placed the officer on administrative leave.
Chief DiPino was disturbed to see an Officer kneeling on the head and neck of an individual in the video. While it appears the Officer eventually moves his leg to the individual’s back, this tactic is not taught, used or advocated by our agency.
The individual did not require medical attention nor did the individual complain of injuries during the incident. Please see the attached booking photo and police report for additional details regarding this arrest.
The Sarasota Police Department has not received any complaints from citizens regarding this video but is taking this incident seriously. If anyone has any additional information or videos regarding this incident or any other complaints, please contact the Sarasota Police Department Internal Affairs Division at 941-263-6027, Chief DiPino at 941-263-6012 or Heather Robison, who is the Administrator for the City of Sarasota Police Advisory Panels at 941–263-6322.
To continue our transparency involving the arrest of an individual on May 18, 2020 in the City of Sarasota, Government, we want to share with you the unedited video from the Sarasota County (FL) Sheriff’s Office helicopter. Our Internal Affairs investigation is continuing. At this time, one Officer remains on administrative leave. Deputy Chief Robinson has spent all of today speaking individually with all media outlets who have reached out.
https://youtu.be/AkCOqPUoe_Q
For a better view of the reports, click the link below.