Woman Pushed Down Stairs By Officer Talks To Channel 9
Wednesday, April 2, 2008 – updated: 6:14 pm EDT April 2, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Channel 9 was able to sit down with the woman in a video showing an officer push her down the stairs and she said the incident ruined her career. Jessica Asprilla lost her job as a social worker when Orlando Police Officer Fernando Trinidad charged her with battery. He said she spit in his face and then she tripped. Asprilla filed her own formal complaint Wednesday.
SLIDESHOW: Images From Surveillance Show Officer Push Woman
RAW SURVEILLANCE: Officer Pushes Woman Down Stairs
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Officer Trinidad will remain on duty at the Orlando Police Department. It will be up to the State Attorney's Office to file criminal charges, but the woman he pushed told Eyewitness News on Wednesday he should not be in uniform.Nearly one year after video captured Trinidad pushing Asprilla down the stairs at what was then called Club Paris, she filed an official complaint against the officer demanding he be fired and charged with battery and perjury."I never thought in my life I would go to jail, never thought I would be arrested," she told Eyewitness News.Asprilla lost her job as a social worker because of it. Trinidad also filed an arrest report against her and claimed she spit on him."No, I did not spit on him," Asprilla said.An Internal Affairs investigation came to the same conclusion."There was no secondary wipe to the face or reaction," said Dwain Rivers, Internal Affairs.Rivers said Trinidad reached for a whistle and blew it in her ear as she made her way down the stairs. An Internal Affairs investigation determined Trinidad pushed Asprilla, falsified the police report that landed her jail and then she was clearedIt was not the first complaint Trinidad has faced in recent months. Channel 9 obtained a recorded message Trinidad left on a Maitland woman's answering machine."I swear to (expletive) God if I ever (expletive) see you, you're going to have the biggest (expletive) smack in the (expletive) face," the recording says.The woman filed a complaint and requested a domestic violence injunction that was denied. Jessica Asprilla feels it is telling as to what he's capable of."This officer could do this to someone else," she said.Asprilla is still trying to get her job back as a social worker. She does plan on filing a civil suit.Trinidad was suspended for one day for pushing Asprilla and was not punished for falsifying the report due to a technicality.
Officer Trinidad will remain on duty at the Orlando Police Department. It will be up to the State Attorney's Office to file criminal charges, but the woman he pushed told Eyewitness News on Wednesday he should not be in uniform.Nearly one year after video captured Trinidad pushing Asprilla down the stairs at what was then called Club Paris, she filed an official complaint against the officer demanding he be fired and charged with battery and perjury."I never thought in my life I would go to jail, never thought I would be arrested," she told Eyewitness News.Asprilla lost her job as a social worker because of it. Trinidad also filed an arrest report against her and claimed she spit on him."No, I did not spit on him," Asprilla said.An Internal Affairs investigation came to the same conclusion."There was no secondary wipe to the face or reaction," said Dwain Rivers, Internal Affairs.Rivers said Trinidad reached for a whistle and blew it in her ear as she made her way down the stairs. An Internal Affairs investigation determined Trinidad pushed Asprilla, falsified the police report that landed her jail and then she was clearedIt was not the first complaint Trinidad has faced in recent months. Channel 9 obtained a recorded message Trinidad left on a Maitland woman's answering machine."I swear to (expletive) God if I ever (expletive) see you, you're going to have the biggest (expletive) smack in the (expletive) face," the recording says.The woman filed a complaint and requested a domestic violence injunction that was denied. Jessica Asprilla feels it is telling as to what he's capable of."This officer could do this to someone else," she said.Asprilla is still trying to get her job back as a social worker. She does plan on filing a civil suit.Trinidad was suspended for one day for pushing Asprilla and was not punished for falsifying the report due to a technicality.
Previous Stories:
- April 2, 2008: Woman Pushed Down Stairs By Officer Wants Him Criminally Charged
- April 1, 2008: Officer Suspended For Pushing Woman Down Stairs At Nightclub
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