ORLANDO, Fla. — 9 Investigates has discovered unasked questions and contradictions in the Orlando Police Department's handling of a police brutality case that cost an officer his job.
Former OPD Officer William Escobar is facing criminal charges the case. He was recently fired by the department for his handling of an arrest.
Channel 9's Kathi Belich has been reviewing OPD's investigation.
OPD sergeants signed their names to reports that appear to contradict their own video evidence.
On Thursday, OPD Chief John Mina said Escobar is the only officer who will be disciplined over the arrest of Refus Holloway, and the resulting investigations.
OPD bodycam video shows Escobar thrusting toward Holloway during an arrest, dragging Holloway, who was handcuffed behind his back, and kicking Holloway.
Records show the Escobar's supervisor Sgt. Phil Clough admits watching this video that same night before approving the officer's use of force.
But Clough sent the case against Holloway to the State Attorney's office indicating there that was no video.
Belich asked Mina this week whether he had a problem with that.
"It's possible that that officer didn't realize that a responding officer in the middle of the night in the dark actually had bodycam video," Mina said.
"Is that what the officer said, that he was not aware?" Belich asked Mina.
"I'm not sure," Mina said.
"Was he asked?" Belich asked.
"I'm not sure," Mina said.
Records show that Clough was not asked why he kept the bodycam video from prosecutors when he was interviewed months later by OPD Sgt. Ian Berkman, who was investigating whether Escobar committed a crime.
Berkman's report said the police bodycam video does not show "when Holloway was handcuffed or any strikes being delivered to Holloway."
In the video it is clearly evident that Holloway is handcuffed and being kicked.
Ecobar's punches are difficult to see on the bodycam video but Berkman also had cellphone video which could easily have been correlated with the bodycam video.
Berkman concluded that Escobar did not commit a crime.
Prosecutors disagree and plan to take Escobar to trial May 4.
WFTV
