MIAMI – The Miami Police Department said it is investigating after one of its officers is apparently seen punching a handcuffed man in a video that surfaced on the Internet.
In the video, a Miami police officer is seen arresting a man Thursday in Liberty Square. The man is placed into the back of a police car, where the officer seemingly begins to punch him.
The woman who took the video asked not to be identified because she said the officer ordered her to delete it, but she posted the video on Facebook, where it went viral.
She told Local 10 News that the man was arrested because police found marijuana nearby.
"We have seen the video and we have launched a full internal affairs investigation into the matter," Maj. Delrish Moss said in a statement. "We take that responsibility very seriously. The officer involved in the incident will be relieved of duty as we investigate."
Local 10 briefly spoke to the man, who was released from custody.
"The video speaks for itself," he told Local 10. "I don't really have nothing to say."
Lt. Javier Ortiz, president of the Miami Fraternal Order of Police, said he feels confident that the officer in the video will be vindicated once all the facts are presented.
"As everyone is aware, social media has placed a very negative tone on law enforcement nationwide," Ortiz said in a statement. "While the video may seem disturbing to some, the FOP is convinced that when everything is analyzed within the totality of the circumstances, it will be concluded that the police officer was doing what he is supposed to be doing -- protecting our community."
Follow Local 10 News on Twitter @WPLGLocal10