The trial for one of five officers accused of beating a tourist inside a Miami Beach hotel in a 2021 incident that was caught on camera has started.
Officer Kevin Perez, 34, was allegedly seen on camera kicking and slamming 26-year-old Daltona V. Crudup, of Washington D.C., inside the Royal Palm Hotel.
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Perez faces a felony battery charge.
The second day of the trial started Friday with Crudup taking the stand. At one point, he got emotional while he was watching the video of police beating him. According to him, he ran away from police so he can go back to the hotel to see his mom.
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He also described the moments before and after he was beaten by Miami Beach Police. He showed the jury where his head and legs were and how police kicked and slammed him.
But before that, Crudup said he rented a scooter and was hanging out with friends. Around that time he said police did not make it clear if he was doing something wrong with his scooter. So he randomly got up to leave but fell down on his own. When he turned back, he told the courtroom his friends and police started laughing at him, so he flipped them off and drove away.
At one point on his way back to the Royal Palm Hotel, he noticed police chasing him but didn't know why.
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"I was scared for my life," he said when asked why he didn't stop for police.
When he made it to the hotel, that’s when police caught up and Crudup gets down on the floor.
Perez's attorneys planned to question Crudup's two criminal open cases in Kentucky and Washington D.C., which allegedly occurred after the July 2021 incident. Crudup agreed to take the stand and face any questions related to his alleged criminal history.
Wednesday afternoon's court session consisted of opening statements and testimony from Miami Beach Police Lt. Jose Reyna. Reyna was the officer who prevented Crudup from getting inside the elevator inside the Royal Palm.
The second person to take the stand was Crudup. Crudup admitted he was under a subpoena by the state and is not voluntarily testifying.
More witnesses were expected to testify for the next few trial days, including Khalid Vaughn, a second man seen on body-worn footage getting tackled by police.
Four other officers were charged. Jose Perez pled guilty and is on probation. Officer Robert Sabater, Officer David Rivas and Officer Steven Serrano have open criminal cases.
