A Kissimmee police officer is facing felony child abuse charges stemming from an incident where he tried to diffuse a situation between a middle school student and the student’s mom.
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Badia tried to grab the student by the shirt, then got a hold of his arm, the video shows. Badia found out he has been fired from the force Friday, Starke said. Enlarge Ninth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office The boy’s mother said his wrist and ankle were sprained in the one-sided clash.
WFTV said the boy and his mother Alexis Richmond had been arguing when the police man waded in.
“He came in with such a hostile manner, like he was ready for war”, Ms Richmond said. Surveillance video allegedly shows Badia body slam the boy, who was not resisting, along with yelling at him.
Badia was arrested shortly after the incident and faces a felony child abuse charge.
The content of the officer and his colleague’s subsequent conversation with Richmond is not audible, though her son heads back into the school with a female officer after what appears to be additional questions asked towards him.
The boy’s mother said that the dispute between her and her son was ‘a kid being a kid, ‘ and that police should not have been called. “He should get time for what he did to my son”, she said. “I felt so helpless”.
Badia walked into the front office and started speaking with the student. A criminal and internal investigation was then opened.
Badia will stand trial for the incident on December 7. “Officer Badia has been given notice of our intent to terminate his employment”.
Google Maps Street View Kissimmee Middle School, shown in a Google image, was the site of the May 8 incident.
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Badia is slated to meet with Kissimmee Police Chief Lee Massie on November 20 to receive his official termination, although the officer has the right to appeal the decision.
