A police chief in Miami-Dade County said she recently released two of her officers from the department for “egregious” behavior.
Miami Gardens Police Chief Delma Noel-Pratt explained Wednesday that the two men, identified as Jaiver Castano and Jordy Yanes Matel, are under a criminal investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
“I terminated the officers because the behavior was egregious and will not be tolerated at the department,” Noel-Pratt added in a statement.
It is inexcusable, unacceptable, unjustifiable, and criminal what occurred to Mr. G. Floyd. I don’t have any sons, but I have a husband, brother and nephews. This cannot be our reality, we must be professional and treat others with respect, compassion and dignity. @MGPDFL
— Delma K. Noel-Pratt (@ChiefNoelPratt) May 28, 2020
One of the officers is accused of physically attacking a suspect’s acquaintance. Meanwhile, the other officer is accused of trying to cover up that act by not downloading his bodycam footage, which is officers are required to download after every shift.
Records show the Miami Gardens Police Department hired Castano in August 2018 and Yanes Matel in October of that year.
According to the victim in the case, the beating happened on March 21 at the RaceTrac gas station located at 19100 NW 2nd Ave., in Miami Gardens.