Description
When the Tampa Police Department on Election Day announced it fired Michael Scaglione for unauthorized use of deadly force in April, Yvette Lewis of the Hillsborough NAACP applauded the decision.
Bodycam video showed Scaglione placing a domestic violence suspect in a chokehold. TPD says the man lost consciousness and that the officer struck him in the head several times as he continued to resist arrest.
"I was upset and disappointed that a police officer would do that and that they did not even recognize the signs of distress that was going through this gentleman's body at the time,” Lewis said.
Brandon Barclay, president of the Tampa Police Benevolent Association, told 10 Investigates via phone on Monday that Scaglione did nothing wrong. He said when his case is heard, the union will be able to prove Scaglione used a department-approved harness technique and not a chokehold.
Barclay also said the officers were in a tense situation because of the suspect resisting, and the blame rests on him and not the officers trying to respond and make an arrest.
However, a disposition letter dated Aug. 30 said, “Once shown the BWC video [Scaglione] conceded that it is possible that he inadvertently placed the defendant in a chokehold.”
Lewis stands by TPD, saying Chief Lee Bercaw made the right decision by firing Scaglione. But she believes there should be more accountability for Anthony Girouard, the second officer on the scene.
MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/investigations/10-investigates/tampa-officer-fired-chokehold-video/67-f3e9b988-0bd5-4758-a182-02681ecfd874