MELBOURNE, Fla. — A Melbourne police officer found himself on the other side of the law.
The officer turned himself in and was arrested Friday following accusations that he punched a handcuffed suspect several times with a closed fist.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement began investigating Christopher Eisen, 47, this month at the request of Melbourne police Chief Steve Mimbs.
Mimbs said in a news release, “In this case, the process used by our supervisors to review each use of force scenario uncovered this incident and we took immediate action to have it investigated. Our officers are devoted to maintaining the utmost professionalism even in the face of provocation.”
Police said on April 5, while Eisen was transporting a handcuffed suspect to the hospital, the suspect spit on him and threatened his family.
As Eisen was preparing to escort the suspect inside the hospital. Eisen allegedly punched him in the face.
Eisen’s supervisors went back through arrest reports and the audio from the police cruiser, and decided to hand the case over to FDLE.
Eisen was charged with felony battery against a suspect and was jailed on a $15,000 bond.
He bonded out of jail Friday night.
Eisen is off the job without pay while the investigation continues.
Earlier this week, Channel 9 reported past problems the department has had with Eisen.
In May 2005, the agency looked into reports that he let a drunk person drive away from the scene of a crash.
FDLE found Eisen violated policy.
The same ruling came down later that year in December, when he was accused of shoving a neighbor's child while off duty.
The finding came with a written reprimand.
Less than a year later, Eisen's file again landed on FDLE’s desk when a couple complained that he was belligerent and rude during a traffic stop.
Eisen was written up a second time.