An investigation is currently underway by the Orlando Police Department concerning the methods of force used by officers during a clash with protesters after a Pro-Palestinian rally in Orlando. A body camera video has surfaced, challenging the OPD's initial account of the events that led to the arrests of eight demonstrators, as reported by My News 13.
While the OPD initially claimed in a statement that a demonstrator had "lunged" in a threatening manner towards an officer and another citizen, the bodycam footage, released as an edited 2-minute snippet without audio for certain segments, tells a different tale. The video, as seen on My News 13, appears to show an individual, identified as Lamia Moukaddam, being shoved into a tree by an officer while taking cell phone video, rather than acting in a hostile manner.
The confrontation occurred after a demonstration at Lake Eola, which authorities said ended peacefully. However, as the demonstrators encountered a counter-protester, tensions escalated. One protester, who showed Fox 35 various scrapes and bruises from the encounter, claimed, "Orlando Police Department absolutely escalated the situation without any provocation from our organization and from our protesters," as reported by Fox 35 Orlando.
In the aftermath, Moukaddam denied, per My News 13, any physical aggression, stating, "I did not lay a single hand on them." Despite this, charges including disorderly conduct and battery on a law enforcement officer were filed against the arrested individuals. Only the arrest reports for Miranda Mellon and Madyson Emerald Gaya have been obtained, both charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and with resisting an officer with violence.
Amidst this controversy, the Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith was said to be "not available for interviews" when approached by My News 13.
