Video After The Jump
MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. (WSVN) - A former Miami Gardens police officer accused of using excessive for in the arrest of a pregnant woman is off the force after bonding out of jail.
Jody Martel was captured on camera using a Taser on a pregnant woman and putting his knee on her neck outside of Tootsie’s Cabaret in January.
Martel was arrested Thursday and charged with battery and official misconduct.
Thirty-two-year-old Safiya Satchell was arrested after a confrontation with Tootsie’s staff.
Martel, who worked the security detail that night, went too far according to Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle.
Fernandez-Rundle said, “Martel allegedly used excessive force by putting his knee on Ms. Satchell’s neck. He went into Sacthell’s car without any evidence that she had committed a crime.”
Martel was caught on video reaching into Satchell’s car as she said back to him, “Don’t reach into my car.”
He then appeared to pull her out and use a Taser on her.
Satchell’s attorney released a statement saying in part, “The days of shuffling aside these videos of police misconduct are soon behind us as a community and a nation. We are pleased to see swift action taken by the authorities against this former officer.”
Martel has been in trouble before, appearing in a cell phone video struggling with a man in March at a Miami Gardens RaceTrac gas station.
The Miami Gardens Chief of Police called the rough arrest egregious behavior and wouldn’t be tolerated.
The video outside of Tootsie’s Cabaret included a staff member asking the person recording the incident, “Can you please delete that, sir? Can you please delete it?”
All charges against Satchell have been dropped.
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