Miami Beach Officer Seen On Video Throwing Punch At Man In Cafe

MIAMI BEACH, FL — A Miami Beach police officer was relieved of patrol duty Wednesday after he was caught on video delivering what appeared to be a right hook to a man he encountered at an outdoor cafe. The video of Officer Adriel Dominguez was sent to city officials earlier in the day by an attorney for a fellow officer who asked to be protected as a whistleblower.

Officer Adriel Dominguez can be heard on the video telling the man at least three times to "watch yourself" before the man got closer and demanded "What? What?" in a raised tone. Warning: The video contains explicit

The officer could then be seen throwing what appeared to be a single punch toward the man's face. Editor's note: The video contains explicit language.

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Miami Beach Police Chief Daniel Oates said he referred the video to the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office and called for an investigation.

“I was made aware of this incident this morning. This is obviously a very serious matter," he said. "At my direction, our Internal Affairs Unit immediately launched an investigation. We have also notified the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office."

Oates said the officer has been relieved of his patrol duties for the time being.

"He will be placed in a non-enforcement assignment until further notice,” according to the chief.

Kevin Millan, vice president of the Miami Beach Fraternal Order of Police, said the organization believes the officer's actions were justified.

"The video, along with the police officers' body cameras' footage captured the dangerous confrontation with an agitated, angry and physically aggressive defendant," he insisted. "There is no question Officer Dominguez was legally justified and fully entitled to protect himself."

Millan said that he is confident the officer will be cleared of any wrongdoing.

"Like every citizen, police officers are entitled to protect themselves from imminent harm when physically threatened by another," Millan said. "We are confident that a fair and thorough investigation will result in Officer Dominguez being cleared of any wrongdoing."

City Manager Jimmy Morales said he had "full faith and confidence" that the police department would conduct a thorough investigation.

“Mistreatment of anyone by our police officers is unacceptable," declared Morales.

In his email to city officials, attorney Michael A. Pizzi Jr. said his client believes the video depicts an assault of an unarmed citizen.

"Officer Dominguez is requesting Whistleblower protection from the City for reporting this and other incidents which he believes to constitute misconduct warranting investigation," Pizzi wrote.

Pizzi told Local 10 News that his client couldn't remain quiet following the incident, which appeared to take place at the Pelican Cafe along iconic Ocean Drive.

"The police officer felt that he needed to break ranks and expose this," Pizzi told the news station.

Officer Adriel Dominguez was hired on Aug. 15, 2016, according to the Miami Beach Police Department.

Video courtesy Law Office of Michael A. Pizzi, Jr., P.A.