Clearwater Cop Fired After Teen Injured During Arrest

CLEARWATER, FL — The Clearwater Police Department has announced the termination of one of its officers after an internal investigation determined he used excessive force while bringing a teenager into custody in April. The teen suffered facial injuries and had to be taken to a hospital for treatment.

The incident that led to Officer Michael Leonardo’s firing took place on April 2 around 10 a.m. when police were called to Family Resources, 1615 Union St. Employees there reported that a 13-year-old resident was “acting violently, throwing and breaking things and punching another teenager,” an email from the police department said.

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The first officer to arrive at the temporary shelter for youth told the teen he was being charged with battery, a Wednesday, May 24 email from the police department said. The teen was placed into custody at that time. The officer reported that he thought the teen was trying to break away, so the boy “was taken to the ground, while handcuffed,” the email said. The teen hit his face on the pavement and had to be taken to a local hospital for treatment.

The use of force prompted a standard review by the agency, the police department explained. Video was pulled from the shelter and reviewed.

After supervisors saw the video, “Officer Michael Leonardo was placed on administrative duty pending a formal and more thorough investigation,” the email noted. That investigation recently concluded that Leonardo violated the agency’s use of force policy.

Chief Daniel Slaughter announced Leonardo’s termination Wednesday. Leonardo had been with the agency since Oct. 22, 2012.

No further information is available at this time.

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