Video Of Woman Pushed Down Stairs Prompts Calls For Charges Against Officer
POSTED: Monday, March 31, 2008
UPDATED: 12:32 pm EDT April 1,
2008
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Video showing a woman being pushed down some stairs by a police officer that led to a battery charge against the woman has prompted calls for charges against the officer.
IMAGES:Woman Pushed Down Stairs
Local 6 showed video of Officer Fernando Trinidad, who was working off-duty last April.Trinidad was caught on tape pushing Jessica Asprilla, 27, down some steps at the now-defunct Club Paris in downtown Orlando."He was rushing me out of the club," Asprilla said. "I was going down the stairs and the next thing I knew, he pushed me and I was on the floor."Asprilla was charged with battery on the officer after she was pushed, Local 6 reported.Asprilla admitted to giving Trinidad some "lip" at the club but that's it, Local 6's Tony Pipitone reported."But he swore you spat twice in his face," Pipitone said."I didn't spit in his face," Asprilla said."And if he swears to that under oath?" Pipitone asked."Then, that would be a lie," she said.Trinidad did swear to it and also swore that Asprilla "lost her footing" when he tried to grab her.Local 6 showed the video of the incident and it showed the woman being shoved down the stairs.As for the alleged spitting, when asked why Trinidad did not wipe any spit off, he told an internal investigator, "I've had worse than saliva in my face."Aspirlla said she lost her job over the arrest and her place in graduate school. She said it also shattered her dreams for a career in social work, where background checks would reveal the arrest."And they'll see battery on a law enforcement officer?" Pipitone asked."Yes," Asprilla said."What do you see?" Pipitone asked."I see I was battered by a law enforcement officer," she said.Asprilla said she owes thousands of dollars in medical bills from her ankle injury in connection with the incident.However, she most feared Trinidad's sworn testimony the would have put her in prison for years."I didn't know how I would be able to prove my innocence," Asprilla said. "Everyone always believes the word of a police officer."Asprilla's attorney then learned of the video."Had you not had the video?" Pipitone asked."Then, I would have probably gone to jail for battery on the police officer," Asprilla said.When prosecutors saw the tape, they dropped the charges, Local 6 reported.Now, Asprilla's attorney wants Trinidad prosecuted for battery and perjury, Pipitone said."It's unbelievable," attorney Adam Sudbury said. "It's a police officer just taking out a private citizen at a club.""You see a crime on that tape?" Pipitone asked."Absolutely," Sudbury said.An Orlando police investigation found Trinidad did push the woman, causing her ankle injury -- though they could not say it was intentional.Also, investigators said Trinidad entered "inaccurate, false or improper information" in his report.But in January, Orlando Police Chief Val Demings issued only an eight-hour suspension for Trinidad's conduct.Trinidad refused requests for comment concerning the incident.He continues to patrol Orlando streets.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
IMAGES:Woman Pushed Down Stairs Local 6 showed video of Officer Fernando Trinidad, who was working off-duty last April.Trinidad was caught on tape pushing Jessica Asprilla, 27, down some steps at the now-defunct Club Paris in downtown Orlando."He was rushing me out of the club," Asprilla said. "I was going down the stairs and the next thing I knew, he pushed me and I was on the floor."Asprilla was charged with battery on the officer after she was pushed, Local 6 reported.Asprilla admitted to giving Trinidad some "lip" at the club but that's it, Local 6's Tony Pipitone reported."But he swore you spat twice in his face," Pipitone said."I didn't spit in his face," Asprilla said."And if he swears to that under oath?" Pipitone asked."Then, that would be a lie," she said.Trinidad did swear to it and also swore that Asprilla "lost her footing" when he tried to grab her.Local 6 showed the video of the incident and it showed the woman being shoved down the stairs.As for the alleged spitting, when asked why Trinidad did not wipe any spit off, he told an internal investigator, "I've had worse than saliva in my face."Aspirlla said she lost her job over the arrest and her place in graduate school. She said it also shattered her dreams for a career in social work, where background checks would reveal the arrest."And they'll see battery on a law enforcement officer?" Pipitone asked."Yes," Asprilla said."What do you see?" Pipitone asked."I see I was battered by a law enforcement officer," she said.Asprilla said she owes thousands of dollars in medical bills from her ankle injury in connection with the incident.However, she most feared Trinidad's sworn testimony the would have put her in prison for years."I didn't know how I would be able to prove my innocence," Asprilla said. "Everyone always believes the word of a police officer."Asprilla's attorney then learned of the video."Had you not had the video?" Pipitone asked."Then, I would have probably gone to jail for battery on the police officer," Asprilla said.When prosecutors saw the tape, they dropped the charges, Local 6 reported.Now, Asprilla's attorney wants Trinidad prosecuted for battery and perjury, Pipitone said."It's unbelievable," attorney Adam Sudbury said. "It's a police officer just taking out a private citizen at a club.""You see a crime on that tape?" Pipitone asked."Absolutely," Sudbury said.An Orlando police investigation found Trinidad did push the woman, causing her ankle injury -- though they could not say it was intentional.Also, investigators said Trinidad entered "inaccurate, false or improper information" in his report.But in January, Orlando Police Chief Val Demings issued only an eight-hour suspension for Trinidad's conduct.Trinidad refused requests for comment concerning the incident.He continues to patrol Orlando streets.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
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