HIALEAH, Fla. – Authorities booked a Miramar police officer into jail early Monday morning after he was arrested on a charge of domestic battery by strangulation in Hialeah.
Officer Orlando Marrero, who was hired in August 2022, has now been relieved of duty amid the ongoing investigation, Miramar police chief Delrish Moss said in a statement issued Monday afternoon.
Recommended Videos
According to an arrest report, the incident happened just before 6 p.m. Sunday.
Hialeah police said Marrero, 24, had been arguing with his girlfriend of nine months over his desire to break up with her and move out of the home they shared together.
The report states the argument escalated when the victim threw a computer mouse on the ground, leading Marrero to grab the woman by the throat, restricting her breathing and causing her to see “stars,” she told police, describing herself as being in a “headlock.”
Eventually, police said she got out of Marrero’s grip and tried to call her son for help, at which point he slapped the phone out of her hands, causing it to fall down a set of stairs at the home.
The report states that as the woman went down the stairs to retrieve it, Marrero followed her and wrapped his arms around her body. Police said she got away and went outside, where he grabbed her again as she pleaded for him to “let her go.”
An off-duty Medley police sergeant was driving by and heard those cries and saw the two “wrestling,” the report states, leading him to park his car and check on the pair. By that point, the woman was sitting on the ground between two vehicles with Marrero standing over her, police said.
The sergeant told investigators that he identified himself as a police officer, separated the two and called Hialeah police.
Authorities said Marrero declined to speak with police. The report states the woman had bruising to her arms and scratches on her left shoulder blade.
According to jail records, Marrero was being held in Miami-Dade County’s Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $5,000 bond for the felony charge as of Monday afternoon.
Full police statement:
“Miramar Police Officer Orlando Marrero has been arrested by the Hialeah Police Department in connection with a domestic violence incident that occurred within their jurisdiction.
It is important to emphasize that Officer Marrero, like all citizens, enjoys the presumption of innocence. However, due to the gravity of the situation, we have been compelled to relieve him of duty while the investigation unfolds. We are fully cooperating with the Hialeah Police Department and are committed to providing them with any assistance they may require.
The Miramar Police Department takes incidents of this nature very seriously, and we want to assure you that we are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability within our department. We understand the significance of maintaining public trust, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that our community continues to have confidence in our officers.
We also want to emphasize that our thoughts are with the alleged victim in this incident and all who are affected. Their well-being and safety are of utmost importance to us.
It is essential that we demonstrate our commitment to both the integrity of our department and the fair treatment of Officer Marrero as the legal process moves forward. Thank you for your understanding and ongoing support as we address this matter with the utmost seriousness and dedication to the well-being of our community.”
Chief Delrish Moss, Miramar Police Department