MIAMI – The trial of a former Miami Gardens police officer continued Thursday despite concerns raised over a video.
“I’m not inclined to have this entire video, because I don’t think it’s relevant to the issue at hand,” Judge Marisa Tinkler Mendez said.
The video is the key piece of evidence in the case. The state alleges that it shows Jordy Yanes Martel using excessive force during the arrest of Satifya Satchell.
Only a portion of the video was entered into evidence.
“My client does not want a mistrial, but he does want the video played in full,” defense attorney David Braun said.
The defense continued its cross examination of Satchell Thursday.
“You suggested, ‘Can I drive over’ right? And he responds to you that that’s not acceptable, right?” Braun asked.
“Correct,” Satchell said.
The confrontation in January 2020 started when Satchell was in her car, attempting to leave the Tootsie’s Cabaret strip club.
The club had asked the officer, who was working an off-duty detail there as security, to warn her not to come back after she allegedly threw money at a waitress.
But Satchell allegedly refused to get out of her car to be issued a trespass warning.
That’s when the situation escalated.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said that Yanes Martel had “no legal authority to detain the victim,” who he forcibly removed from her vehicle, and took to the ground before kneeling on her neck.
Yanes Martel wrote in a police report that Satchell “purposely and maliciously struck me on the right part of my lower lip with a closed fist ..(she) continued to fight officers by kicking and punching,” but prosecutors said his statements were untrue.
“She can’t punch him in the face, she can’t punch the other officer in the face, she can’t kick him because he’s on her side, she can’t kick the other person because he’s standing up. What is really necessary about that?” Assistant State Attorney Kioceaia Stenson said.
Among the witnesses Yanes Martel’s defense team called on Thursday was the bouncer at the club and an expert witness and former police officer who is suggesting that the officer used proper protocol during the arrest.
“I was very impressed with Officer Martel’s demeanor in handling the situation,” said Ruben Mena, a law enforcement expert witness. “I saw Officer Martel attempt a three-point pin, which again, is taught in the academy.”
“You’re getting $5,000 to come in to testify on behalf of the defense, correct?” Assistant State Attorney Alex Bergida asked.
The state argues Yanes Martel placed his knee on Satchell’s throat, constituting excessive force resulting in battery.
“You would agree with me that the defendant’s knee is on her neck?” asked Bergida.
“It may be partially on her neck. I would not agree,” said Mena.
“It looks like she struck his hand or arm. I’m not sure, when he went to reach in the door,” said Artagus Lanea, who was working as a club security guard when the incident occurred.
The officer pulled the woman out of the vehicle and tased her twice during the incident.
Yanes Martel decided not to testify in the case.
Closing arguments were given in court Thursday as Stenson argued that Yanes Martel exceeded his authority as a police officer during the arrest of Satchell.
The state claimed Yanes Martel attempted to cover up the incident by writing a false statement on the arrest report.
“He either omitted certain facts that were necessary or just misrepresented other facts that are also necessary and important,” Stenson said.
“Semantics do not survive reasonable doubt,” Braun countered.
The officer’s defense attorneys argued that the state has not met the threshold to consider that report criminal.
“They want you to just like cover your eyes and act like there is no other actions that are involved in this case. That this is all about his actions, but his actions are reactionary to someone else that is involved in this case that you all heard from,” said Braun.
He also argued that Satchell resisted the arrest and that Yanes Martel’s force, including a Taser, was necessary to detain her.
Another issue that remains uncertain, however, is whether he had a legal basis to arrest the woman.
Yanes Martel is facing charges including trespassing, battery, and official misconduct.
Jury deliberations are set to continue on Friday morning.
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