HOMESTEAD, Fla. – A tense confrontation between police and a Homestead resident posted to YouTube is part of an internal review.
Steven Schmidt spoke exclusively to Local 10 News about what happened when police showed up at his door. The video was recorded on his Ring camera.
“You’re being detained at this point. You need to sit down,” Homestead police said to him.
After repeatedly asking officers why they showed up at Schmidt’s door, one officer told him they were investigating a burglary.
What they didn’t tell Schmidt was that the door knock concerned a car burglary where a gun and a cellphone were stolen.
After he invoked his right not to talk that’s when Schmidt said their tone changed. He said he felt like police were using intimidation tactics. “I did feel harassed.”
According to new information released late Friday, Homestead police conducted a preliminary investigation leading up to what happened before officers showed up at Schmidt’s door.
They said the incident began with an armed car burglary in the early morning hours of Jan. 15. During the burglary, a gun and a cellphone were taken. Police said they were contacted by the owner of the car who said he was tracking his cellphone to the area of the 100 block of S.E. 33rd Place.
According to police, officers went to the location where the stolen cellphone was pinging. It led them to an area near Schmidt’s house. That’s when they said they interacted with Schmidt and other residents in the area.
On the same date, police said that the victim called them to say that a man had called them from the stolen phone and said he wanted to return it. The victim agreed to meet the caller at a shopping center in Homestead.
That’s where Schmidt comes in. Schmidt told the owner of the phone that his father-in-law found the phone on the side of the road while walking through the neighborhood. The stolen cellphone was returned to the man and it was Schmidt who returned the phone, according to police.
From Schmidt’s point of view, he was treated at his own home wrongly by police. “As soon as I said I’m not going to answer any questions, the police officer said, ‘Bingo,’ as if ‘we got him.’ You know, we live in a country where you’re presumed innocent until proven guilty. And I think he did the exact opposite,” said Schmidt.
The homeowner’s two young children were inside at the time. His pregnant wife arrived home in the midst of the back-and-forth exchange.
“They made her stand outside of her own property when she wasn’t being detained. There was no active warrant on that house. I felt that they were trying to use intimidation tactics on me. I did feel harassed. They weren’t answering . . . my questions,” he said.
After about 10 minutes, Schmidt said the officers left.
Police continue their investigation into the incident and released a statement.
“The Homestead Police Department feels that it is important that our residents understand the circumstances of the incident. The Professional Compliance Bureau has been directed to investigate the interaction with Esteban Schmidt and the level of discourtesy displayed during the interaction. The Homestead Police Department assures our residents that all findings will be addressed. The trust of the community is extremely important to our ongoing partnership with the community.”
As for the burglary case, police said they continue to investigate but no arrests have been made.
(See the details from Homestead police below.)