Florida officer charged with hitting handcuffed suspect

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – A Florida police officer has been suspended and charged with striking a handcuffed suspect.

The Broward County State Attorney’s Office filed a misdemeanour battery charge Thursday against 34-year-old Matthew Barbieri. The Hollywood police officer was previously relieved of duty.

Investigators say Barbieri responded to a home Aug. 6 after a man reported that his son was on heroin and acting erratically. The handcuffed son objected to Barbieri searching the home.

Prosecutors say home surveillance video shows Barbieri slap the man twice, grab him by the throat and ask, “Do I have permission now?” The video also shows Barbieri telling another officer that he was going to have to say the handcuffed man was kicking.

Barbieri has not been booked into jail. Court records didn’t list an attorney for him who could comment.