Khalid Vaughn (2021)

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Overview

On July 26, 2021, Khalid Vaughn and Sharif Cobb witnessed the incident between several Miami Beach Florida Police Department officers and Dalonta Crudup and began filming on their cell phones.

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said that video shows Vaughn, who was filming the incident about 12 to 15 feet away, backing up as officers approached him, yet Robert Sabater charged at him, tackling him to the floor and repeatedly punching him.[1]

Fernandez Rundle said officers cornered Vaughn and he was repeatedly struck by both David Rivas and Steven Serrano. [1] The police report states that one officer delivered "multiple right elbow strikes to Mr. Vaughn’s facial area" while another threw "approximately four right closed fist strikes" to Vaughn’s face.[2]

Vaughn was arrested for impeding, provoking and harassing officers[1] though another source says Vaughn was initially charged with resisting arrest.[2]. Cobb was also arrested [1] for a misdemeanor charge of resisting an officer without violence and a civil infraction. He was released on a $1,500 bond. [3]

Four unnamed officers were relieved of duty with pay.[4][2] A fifth officer was also later relieved of duty. [3]

Police Chief Richard Clements called for an internal investigation and asked the state attorney’s office to label the charges against Vaughn as "no action."[4]

On July 26, 2021, Rivas, Sabater, and Serrano were relieved of duty (with pay).[5]

On July 27, 2021, charges against Vaughn of resisting an arrest with violence and impeding a police investigation were been dropped.[6][3]

On August 2, 2021, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announced first-degree misdemeanor battery charges against the five officers involved.[7]

On September 9, 2021, the five officers were arraigned and charged with misdemeanor battery.[8]

On September 23, 2021, it was announced that Serrano would be charged with official misconduct, which is a third-degree felony.[9][10]

On April 11, 2022, Vaughn filed a lawsuit against the city, Clements, Sabater, and other officers, claiming civil rights violations.[11]

In September 2022, the city planned to vote to approve a $119,000 settlement with Vaughn.[12]

In May 2023, the charge against Sabater was dropped due to a lack of evidence and jurisdiction. The state attorney's office announced plans to appeal.[13]

On May 25, 2023, the charge against Rivas was dropped due to a lack of evidence and jurisdiction. The state attorney's office announced plans to appeal.[13]

Video

Hotel surveilance and bodycam footage

Also:

Officers Involved


Official Reports

Additional Sources

References