A former Miami Beach police officer blatantly ignored a deadly hit-and-run that happened outside his department's headquarters earlier this year, according to the incident and newly released surveillance footage from local police.
Esmat Ahmed Ibrahim Khedr, 63, was riding his electric bicycle toward an intersection a few steps away from Miami Beach Police Headquarters when he was struck by a blue Ford Bronco. Local 10 showed.
The driver fled the scene, and passersby came to Kheder's aid a short time later.
Miami Beach Police Officer Edward Cavalier was near the scene and was notified of the hit-and-run by witnesses but declined to take action.
Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne Jones said in a statement to Local 10 that Cavalry “instructed the member of the public who reported the collision to enter the police station and file a report themselves” before fleeing the scene.
A witness then went inside the headquarters and notified other officers about the incident outside, and when they arrived they found Mr Khedle unconscious and not breathing.
The 63-year-old victim was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Jones said an internal investigation that began May 1 found Cavalier violated police standards by failing to take “negligent” action to help Khedle, leading to his firing.
“This response was negligent and a clear violation of department policy,” Miami Beach Police Cpl.
Kavalee was sworn in as a police officer in July 2023 and was still on probation with the Miami Beach Police Department at the time of the hit-and-run incident, which resulted in him being fired.
Jones slammed the former officer, saying his actions “do not represent the dedication and professionalism of the hardworking men and women of the Miami Beach Police Department.”
“It is important to emphasize that all employees in this department are held to the highest standards and any behavior of the kind exhibited by Mr. Caverly will not be tolerated,” Jones told the outlet. “We offer our prayers to the victim of this tragic incident.”
Police later identified the driver of the blue Ford Bronco as Demarcus Cortez Harrington, 43, of Dania Beach.
According to an arrest warrant obtained by police, a witness to the fatal hit-and-run crash claims he saw the driver of a Blue Bronco look back at the victim, “shrug his shoulders” and continue fleeing. Exit.
The suspect was allegedly pursued by an acquaintance driving a grey Ford Bronco and run over on Khedle Street.
The acquaintance of Harrington, whose name has not been released, reportedly met him at a local strip club and told police he rented a Ford Bronco through his company's car rental app, Turo, and was returning it to Miami International Airport. Local 10.
Friends of Mr Harrington claim they heard a “snap” sound when Mr Keddle was hit and that shocked bystanders watched as the Bronco drove off unchecked.
According to Local 10, his acquaintance told police that when police pulled over his car a short time later, they asked Harrington if he had hit anyone and pleaded with him to return to the scene.
According to the media, the two men nearly got into a fistfight, after which Harrington told an acquaintance he wasn't going back to prison and dumped the Bronco in a nearby alley.
The Broward County Sheriff's Office took Harrington into custody on July 16. He was then taken to Miami-Dade County on an arrest warrant issued in connection with the hit-and-run incident, police said.
Harrington has been charged with fleeing the scene of a fatal accident and is currently being held at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami.
He is due to appear in court on October 2nd, the media reported.
According to record According to Iowa Department of Corrections documents obtained by the media, Harrington has a lengthy criminal history in Iowa.
