Daytona Beach officer fired after viral open container arrest
Daytona Beach officer fired after viral open container arrest
Daytona Beach officer was fired after an arrest following an open container incident. Charges have been dropped against the officer. The police chief said the officers showed "poor judgment" during the stop, FOX 35's Chris Lindsay reported. David Anderson, 27, of Tennessee, was arrested shortly after midnight in Daytona Beach for an alleged open container violation. Police said in the report that Anderson threw the cork at the officer, which prompted the arrest. He was then handcuffed and Tased for allegedly resisting arrest, the report states.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - A Daytona Beach police officer has been fired months after an alleged open-container violation ended with the suspect being repeatedly punched in the head while handcuffed.
What happened
The backstory:
The encounter began when Officer Joel Llinas approached a 27-year-old man who police said was holding an open bottle of alcohol. He told the man to either pour the bottle out or be taken to jail for the violation.
According to Llinas, while he was pouring it, the man threw the cork of the bottle at him. As Llinas went to arrest him for a battery charge that was later dropped, body camera captured the man being tackled, tasered, and repeatedly punched in the head.
Llinas was removed from regular duties, while the internal investigation was underway. At the time, Police Chief Jakari Young described what he saw as concerning.
The investigation found Llinas violated multiple department policies as it relates to the use of force.
What they're saying:
Chief Young released a statement regarding the decision.
"How an officer responds in difficult situations requires sound judgment and emotional control," Young said. "After reviewing the totality of the circumstances, I determined that Llinas’ judgment and emotional control did not meet the standards expected of a Daytona Beach Police Officer."
He also mentioned the fact this was the second use of force investigation he was subject to within his three-year career on the force. Department records show staff found, during a response, he placed the barrel of his gun against a man who was not posing a threat.
For that infraction, he was given a written reprimand.
"He had also received de-escalation training intended to help officers manage encounters through communication, sound decision-making and appropriate tactical options when circumstances allow," Young said.
In April, State Prosecutors declined to file charges against Llinas.
The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Daytona Beach Police Department.