FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida sheriff said he has fired a deputy for punching a suspect who was handcuffed to a hospital bed.
Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony told reporters Wednesday he decided to terminate 25-year-old Jorge Sobrino over the January incident.
Authorities say Sobrino responded to an altercation at a Walmart store involving David O'Connell, who was charged with resisting arrest and taken to a local hospital. While there, investigators say O'Connell became abusive to Sobrino, who responded by punching him while O'Connell was handcuffed to a bed.
The incident was captured on body camera footage. Sobrino contended O'Connell pushed him first.
At the Broward Sheriff’s Office, we take our oath to protect and serve seriously. At today’s news conference, @bsosherifftony announced the termination of Deputy Jorge Sobrino who was under investigation by Internal Affairs for punching a suspect handcuffed to a hospital bed. pic.twitter.com/7FRwRrphcf
— Broward Sheriff (@browardsheriff) October 30, 2019
Sobrino faces up to a year in prison if convicted of the battery charge.
Another Broward deputy was fired in July for punching a handcuffed suspect in a separate incident.