The officer caught on cell-phone video slapping an elderly homeless man has been suspended (with pay) from Fort Lauderdale Police as an investigation takes place.
Officer Victor Ramirez, a nine year veteran is seen slapping Bruce Laclair who appears to not be acting violently in the video. After Laclair falls from the initial strike, Ramirez is seen hitting the man for a second-time with an open-palm strike to the face as Laclair lies disoriented on the ground. A loud crack can be heard on the audio as the officer’s rubbered-glove makes contact with Laclair’s face.
The Mayor of Fort Lauderdale, Jack Seiler, has been in the media spot-light for his city’s hard-line take on the problem of homelessness in the beach-side town.
“It’s unacceptable,” Seiler said. “I was very disturbed by the video.
