Fort Lauderdale Officer Brawls With Baby In Hand
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- A Fort Lauderdale police officer is facing suspension after getting into a brawl with his baby in hand at a hotel.
Officer David Knapp said he doesn't remember the incident or how the fight with the security guard started at the private area of the Ritz-Carlton beach hotel parking garage, according to the Sun-Sentinel.
The 33-year old officer was off-duty and described as "extremely intoxicated" during the Oct. 20th incident.
According to an internal police investigation, Knapp was stumbling around the parking garage after a day at the beach with his wife and child. The couple had shared a bottle of champagne and later Knapp had three Johnnie Walker Black label drinks.
At some point, Knapp took his child with him to the bathroom and somehow ended up in the restricted portion of the hotel's parking garage.
A valet spotted him there around 9 p.m. and notified security. Knapp reportedly refused to answer officer Fernando Ramirez's questions, flipped him the bird, and then hit him twice in the face - all while holding onto his child.
According to the report, when Knapp went to strike Ramirez again, he grabbed the child from Knapp's arms to prevent the child from falling then took Knapp to the ground.
During the physical struggle, Knapp's off-duty weapon came out of his holster and landed on the ground, according to the report.
Knapp's wife - unaware of what happened and unable to reach her husband - found out when hotel staff brought the child to her.
Knapp - who suffered head injuries during the altercation - said he could not remember what happened.
He is now facing a 20-day suspension without pay for actions unbecoming a police officer and conduct prejudicial to the good order of the department.
Ramirez declined to press charges against Knapp. Prosecutors decided not to continue the case because they said the evidence showed Knapp was too drunk for them to prove he intentionally hit Ramirez.
Citizens Police Review Board will make a recommendation on the possible suspension on August 29th. That will then go to City Manager Lee Feldman for a final decision.
