An unarmed black man, Lowell Poitier Jr. was knocked unconscious in front of a crowd of people in Miami. According to the Miami Herald, officer Adriel Dominguez has been “relieved of patrol duties” while an internal investigation decides if he was acting lawfully when he knocked out the 35-year-old.
In the video, Dominguez and Poitier Jr. get into a verbal confrontation before Dominguez suddenly punches Poitier Jr. in the face. His fellow officers seemed to encourage the act of violence.
It’s unclear if Dominguez realized that another officer captured the incident on his body cam because Dominguez claimed in his report that Poitier clenched his fist and got into a “fighting stance.”
Another officer, Frederick Dominguez, no relation, owned additional footage that was “never seen” by the department or simply swept under the rug. He was so disturbed by the video, he turned it over to his superiors says his lawyer Michael Pizzi.
“I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s outrageous behavior. It’s an assault in broad daylight,” said Pizzi, who is asking the city of Miami for whistle-blower protection for his client. “He clearly did not take a fighting stance or clench his fist to fight the officer as it says in the report.”
Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber was attending a commission hearing when the incident occurred.
“I had the same gut reaction anyone would. have,” Gelber said. “But we must allow for a thorough investigation. The officer has been put on desk duty pending review.”
Poitier was taken to the hospital due to a bleeding lip and was charged with misdemeanor assault on a police officer, resisting arrest without violence and disorderly conduct.
