Homestead police say they are digging into a social-media video that appears to show one of their own patrol cars lining up for a street race in a residential neighborhood. The short clip, posted to a local Instagram feed, shows a red car roll up alongside a marked Homestead police cruiser before both vehicles punch the gas and take off. Command staff have kicked the case over to the department’s internal affairs bureau, which is now working to identify who was behind the wheel of the cruiser and what exactly was going on.
As reported by NBC 6 South Florida, the video was shared by the Instagram account @TRUEHOMESTEAD and captures the red vehicle pulling up next to the marked unit before the pair appear to race down the street. In a statement to the station, the Homestead Police Department said it “holds its members to the highest standards of professionalism, accountability, and conduct” and that “behavior of this nature is taken seriously.”
What investigators will look for
Detectives are expected to pull any available dash-cam and body-worn camera footage, along with patrol logs, neighborhood surveillance video and witness statements, to figure out whether the cruiser was on duty or legitimately responding to a call when the video was recorded. Under Florida law, street racing and stunt driving are prohibited, and reckless driving is a criminal offense. The conduct in the clip will be weighed against Florida Statute 316.191 and 316.192, which spell out the definitions and possible penalties.
Department's recent scrutiny
The video surfaces at an awkward time for the Homestead Police Department, which has already been under a spotlight over officer conduct. In March, body-worn camera footage was released that shows the arrest of Officer Henry Quintero following a September rollover crash. Quintero faces charges of leaving the scene, DUI and reckless driving, and has been relieved of duty without pay, according to Local 10.
What comes next
The internal affairs bureau in Homestead will now sift through all available footage, speak with involved officers and track down any civilian witnesses to decide whether department discipline or even criminal charges are warranted, the agency told NBC 6 South Florida. Officials say they will take whatever action the investigation supports once the facts are in.
