Bodycam Footage Shows Florida Police Officer Punching Woman At Miami International Airport

A police officer was relieved of his duties after he was caught on camera hitting a woman at Miami International Airport, Florida.

A video of the incident, which was shared on Twitter on Wednesday (July 1), shows the unidentified victim walking up to the officer and arguing with him. The officer suddenly punches the woman as the witnesses gasp. The woman is then pinned down and placed under arrest. The circumstances that led to the dispute are not clear.

After the video went viral, the director of the Miami-Dede Police Department, Alfredo Ramirez, took to Twitter to confirm that they were investigating the incident.

“I am shocked and angered by a body cam video that I just saw involving one of our officers. I’ve immediately initiated an investigation and ordered that the involved officers be relieved of duty. Actions such as these undermine the hard work that we have invested in our community and causes my heart to break for our community and for the vast majority of our officers who dedicate their lives to serving our County,” he tweeted.

He added that he had already spoken to Florida State Attorney for Miami-Dade County Katherine Fernandez Rundle “and asked that her office immediately become involved in the investigation.”

Calling the incident "appalling," Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez said, “It’s excessive use of force and unnecessary. That’s NOT what our Miami-Dede Police Department are trained to do. Ramirez has ordered the officer relieved of duty & investigation is underway. This is why I instituted body cameras & MDPD is reviewing all footage.”

The video, however, had got mixed reactions with people commenting that the woman deserved it as she provoked the officer.

“I thought she was going to hit him I would’ve done the same thing. I see nothing wrong with that officer did you can’t just be walking up on an officer think you’re going to hit him make like you’re going to hit him and then him not do nothing,” one person commented.

“This the problem that I have. We need to show officers respect. They are after all only human. He went to far but she provoked it,” another user commented.