Mariyah Maple (2021)

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Overview

On July 25, 2021, Miami Beach Florida Police Department officers were conducting a traffic stop. As a bystander, Maple was filming the incident on her cell phone, when Sergeant Vincent Stella told her to "back up". Stella pushed Maple with his bicycle, and then used pepper spray on her.[1][2]

Police charged Maple with violating a new city ordinance requiring people to stay 20 feet away from an officer while an arrest is happening.[1]

Maple filed a lawsuit against Stella and two other officers, claiming they they violated her constitutional rights.[1]

On September 2, 2021, the charges against Maple were dropped.[3]

On December 6, 2022, officers Jorge Bercian, Kathleen Acevedo, Diego Rueda, Brandon Campos, Sergeant Jose Perez, Lieutenant Raymond Diaz, Captain Steven Feldman, and Major Enrique Doce were added to the lawsuit.[4]

Video

WPLG news report with bystander video

Officers Involved


Official Reports

Additional Sources

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Steve Litz, Woman Pepper-Sprayed During Miami Beach Arrest Filing Lawsuit, NBC Miami, 2021-11-10
  2. ↑ Atahabih Germain, 'Back Up, Back Up': Miami Beach Police Ordered to Stop Enforcing Law of Arresting Bystanders Filming Cops Following a String of Arrests of Only Black People, Atlanta Black Star, 2021-08-24
  3. ↑ Charges Dropped Against Woman Accused of Filming Miami Beach Officer, NBC Miami, 2021-09-02
  4. ↑ More Officers Added to Lawsuit After Woman Pepper-Sprayed During Miami Beach Arrest, NBC Miami, 2022-12-06