CITY OF MIAMI BEACH STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO MEDIA INQUIRIES
RE: BENOIT CELL PHONE VIDEO
The Miami Beach Police Department continues to work with the State Attorney's office as we investigate the shooting that occurred this past Memorial Day. In the course of the investigation, we received reports alleging that police officers confiscated a phone from a civilian bystander in the immediate aftermath of the incident. Video shot from that phone has been sold to a news outlet, and the individual that took the video (Narces Benoit) has provided statements to the media that allege that officers damaged his private property.
As can be noted in the video, Mr. Benoit had exited his vehicle and approached the incident scene and was observed quickly walking toward his vehicle immediately after the shooting. Because Mr. Benoit matched the description of one of the subjects just reported fleeing the scene and, further, because he ignored repeated commands as he quickly walked towards and entered his vehicle, he was detained by officers.
During the course of the investigation, Mr. Benoit was brought to the station as a witness to the incident. In a recorded statement, the investigating detective informed Mr. Benoit that his cell phone was being seized as investigative evidence and would be returned to him at a later date. Mr. Benoit signed and was provided with a copy of the Miami Beach Property Receipt (copy attached).
Any and all video of the incident is crucial to the investigation, and it is not unusual for police to secure any video that may have evidentiary value. Several other phones were also secured during the course of the investigation.
Contrary to Mr. Benoit's statements to the media, the cell phone turned over to the Miami Beach Police Department is in working order; the only damage observed to the cell phone is to the lower right portion of the LCD screen and it is unknown when this damage occurred. This damage does not appear consistent with Mr. Benoit's statements to the media that his phone was "smashed."
Please refer to attached photos of the front and rear of the phone. Additionally, investigators were not aware - nor did Mr. Benoit ever indicate - that he had removed the SIM card from his phone prior to surrendering it to investigators. This video was subsequently provided to the department only after a subpoena was obtained and issued.
Needless-to-say, there are heightened tensions following any shooting incident. As is evident in Mr. Benoit's video, in the minutes immediately following the incident police officers can be observed working to secure the scene and identify potential witnesses, and - more importantly - any possible, additional suspects.
Notwithstanding, the City of Miami Beach Police Department takes seriously any allegations of police misconduct and urges anyone to report any concerns to the Department's Internal Affairs Division (305.673.7920).
###
City of Miami Beach
Office of Communications
Office of the City Manager
1700 Convention Center Drive
Miami Beach FL 33139
The front of the phone...
The back of the phone...
As a refresher, this is what Mr. Benoit told the Miami Herald about the incident...
Benoit said a Miami Beach officer grabbed his cell phone, said “You want to be [expletive] Paparazzi?” and stomped on his phone before placing him in handcuffs and shoving the crunched phone in Benoit’s back pocket.
[...]
He insisted his phone was broken.
.
11 comments:
haha they #testilie for a living
Good. Now let's see what story they concoct to explain why they took the camera from the Channel 10 photographer.
And of course, they still skipped over the bit where they were confiscating phones without a warrant or subpoena, which they are NOT allowed to do unless the phone or camera was actually being used to commit the crime.
BTW, that looks like a phone that's been smashed, to me.
The City of Miami Police will tell any story to contradict clear evidence of their officers' misbehavior. They flushed their credibility down the crapper quite awhile ago. I'll believe an independent counsel,and not anyone attached to City Hall or the Police Department.
And you know the sad part? My godfather was a cop. Once upon a time, I believed in the police, and I still believe in many of them.
Just not the psychos in Miami.
Rick - Are you pointing out the fact the phone works, or the fact the police arrested someone for taking video, stomping his phone and then claiming it broke?
Kinda tough to check your pockets with in cuffs. I know, i've had them on before.
Oh wait, the police released a statement. It's filled with facts, nothing to see here. Unfortunately, there are three sides to every story, yours, mine and the truth. We don't have the truth in this case and we may never have it, but glad you posted this side for comparison. I hope you don't take it at face value that the officers' behaviors were beyond reproach.
Folks, what weight you give this information, or any information for that matter, is totally up to you. Some of you already know exactly what happened and no matter what new information, evidence, statements are released will believe what you believe.
But I'm going to continue to post information here as I get it. I posted both videos, the expose Liam Crotty did on the victim, and this latest info.
Because I'm still not exactly sure what happened and am considering everything that comes out. It would be nice if everyone else would. But I know based upon past experience that's expecting way too much.
.
"Sentence first! Verdict afterwards!" -- Alice in Wonderland
Play the game, fans. Truth will out, and then the parties who bend the facts or outright lie just make it worse on themselves. And that's a good thing.
Plus, if you don't like the outcome, you can always throw rocks through windows and burn cars.
Squathole - thought throwing rocks and burning cars is what we do when our soccer team wins. I'm so confused.
CLJ - Win or lose it's always a good time for some drunken hooliganism after a footy match ;)
When did the HTC EVO start using sim cards?
...damage could be due to being stepped or stomped on, just would demonstrate who ever tried to step on it had bad aim.
I think if it was my phone and it wasn't broken at all and then looked like it does now (assuming the city actually released photos of Mr. Benoit's phone and not someone else’s) I might describe it as stomped on and insist that it was broken.
I actually broke my phone the way the one that is displayed in that photo, I refer to it as my crunched or broken phone. It’s not in bits and it still makes calls. It is however broken.
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