A Winter Haven police officer is facing a felony battery charge following an arrest that left a suspect with a broken leg.
Police Chief Charlie Bird announced the arrest of Officer Brandon Boone on Tuesday.
It stems from an incident that happened back in June. Police documents show Officer Boone took 35-year-old Ronal Augustin, who was on felony probation, into custody after finding marijuana inside his car during a traffic stop.
Boone brought Augustin into the holding cell at the police department and later put him in the back of his police car to take him to the Polk County Jail in Bartow.
Shortly after Officer Boone left the department, his supervisor called and told him he needed to come back and help bring another arrestee to the jail.
According to Chief Bird, Augustin started acting belligerent when he realized they were turning around to go back.
“Quite frankly, (he) used vile and horrible language to the officer throughout the entire ride back to the police department,” Chief Bird said during a news conference on Tuesday.
Police documents show he called Boone names and told him, “This is bulls***, you don’t have to do this. F*** you and f*** your kids, I hope they die.”
When they arrived back at the police department, Boone started bringing Augustin back into the holding cell. Police documents say Augustin was still yelling about what happened at that point.
Once they got into the holding area, Chief Bird says Boone – “unprovoked” – grabbed hold of Augustin’s arm then applied a knee strike to the “right buttock or high thigh” area.
A struggle between the two broke out when Boone led Augustin into a holding cell, and Augustin ended up landing on the floor while the officer restrained him.
At some point during the struggle, Chief Bird says a loud pop sound was heard and Augustin cried out that his leg was broken.
“Augustin’s leg was at an odd angle,” Bird explained. “The officer with the weight he was putting on Augustin putting him on the ground caused a spiral fracture to occur.”
Officer Boone immediately called from medical help. Augustin was taken to Winter Haven Hospital and eventually had to have surgery on his leg.
“I ultimately requested an independent investigation be conducted by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office based on what I saw in the video,” Bird said.
The sheriff’s office then turned their findings over to the state attorney’s office.
“Based on the totality of the events from the unprovoked knee strike which set into motion events that resulted in Augustin with his leg being broken, his femur, they have elected and felt that it was warranted that it would be a felony battery charge,” Bird explained.
Boone turned himself in on Tuesday. He was suspended with pay following the incident but has now been placed on suspension without pay pending investigation.
“If we don’t do what is right in these situations, we’re no better than the criminals themselves,” Bird said.
“I want to point out that our officers here provide our citizens excellent and professional service every single day,” he added. “This incident does not and should not reflect negatively on the outstanding work they do for our citizens.”
