Winter Haven officer charged with felony battery after arrestee left with broken leg
WINTER HAVEN (FOX 13) - A Winter Haven Police Department officer has been charged with felony battery after apparently breaking the leg of a handcuffed man in his custody.
Winter Haven PD Officer Brandon Boone was arrested August 28 for the June incident involving a man Boone had arrested during a traffic stop.
Winter Haven Chief of Police Charlie Bird asked the Polk County Sheriff's Office to investigate Boone's actions on the evening of June 23 at the Polk County Jail in Bartow.
Investigators say 35-year-old Ronal Augustin had been arrested after marijuana was found inside his car during a traffic stop.
During Augustin's transport, Boone was called to help with the transport of another arrestee.
In a video provided by the Winter Haven Police Department, Officer Boone can be seen bringing Augustin back into a holding area. As they walk, officer Boone was holding a handcuffed Augustin's arm.
Augustin appears to turn around and say something to the officer. That's when Officer Boone "applied a knee strike to the right buttocks area of Augustin."
Officer Boone then leads Augustin into a darkened room, where it appears he falls to the ground. Two other officers follow Boone and Augustin into the room, but the video ends shortly after.
During that time, Augustin's femur was broken, according to Winter Haven PD.
He was taken to the hospital where he had to have surgery to repair his leg.
Winter Haven Chief of Police Bird said he was concerned after seeing the video and called for an independent investigation by the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Results of the investigation were handed over to the State Attorney's Office, which charged Boone with felony battery.
Officer Boone was suspended with pay after the incident - but has since been put on unpaid suspension, pending the conclusion of the internal investigation.
Brandon Boone, 34, was hired as a police officer by the Winter Haven Police Department on October 31, 2016.