Hours after Miami Police Officer Mario Figueroa was charged with misdemeanor assault Tuesday after film surfaced of the cop trying to kick a handcuffed man in the head, the city’s police union defended Figueroa and insisted he hadn’t broken the law or department policy, reports the Miami New Times. According to the police union, Figueroa’s attempted head kick was a “de-escalation technique” that proved Figueroa “showed great restraint.” “While some have characterized this as police brutality, it couldn’t be farther from the truth,” Edward Lugo said in a written statement. “The only thing brutal about this entire incident is the suspect that endangered the lives of the community in which our Miami Police officers risked their lives to take this dangerous man off the streets.”
News reports and multiple politicians have suggested that Figueroa’s defense would likely be that he missed David Suazo’s face. Suazo was arrested last week after her allegedly crashed a stolen car and led cops on a foot chase through an Overtown apartment complex. A citizen captured his arrest on cellphone video. As he was on the ground in handcuffs, Officer Figueroa suddenly rushed into the frame and swung his leg violently at the suspect’s head. Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina suspended him after viewing the video. On Tuesday, Colina said he moved to begin firing Figueroa.