If you can recall nearly 18 months ago, a Fort Lauderdale cop named Jeff Overcash was caught on video apparently arresting 26-year-old Brennen Hamilton after he asked for Overcash's badge number.
According to an internal affairs report obtained by the Pulp, a police sergeant found one of the four allegations against Overcash "sustained" -- although that doesn't hold much weight, since Overcash took a job in Washington not too long after the incident.
The video, which was taken by Hamilton's girlfriend, wasn't exactly the entire story of what happened that night, according to the report.
In the video, you can see Hamilton gets arrested just seconds after approaching Overcash and asking for his badge number.
Earlier that night, Overcash confronted Hamilton about leaning against his cop car and smoking a cigarette. Overcash ended up grabbing Hamilton's arm and, according to some witnesses, used obscene language as he told Hamilton he'd be arrested if he didn't leave.
Hamilton ended up calling the cops to complain and was asked for the officer's name and badge number.
That's when Hamilton went back to Overcash and was arrested.
Hamilton's claim that Overcash was acting discourteous or uncivil was not sustained, due to conflicting testimony from witnesses over what was said between the two, the report says.
An allegation that Overcash used an "unnecessary response to resistance" was also not sustained. The report states there was no evidence that Overcash's grabbing Hamilton by the arm or applying the handcuffs to Hamilton were inappropriate.
Hamilton's claim that his arrest was intentionally unlawful wasn't sustained either. Overcash arrested Hamilton on two charges -- disorderly intoxication and resisting/obstruction. The internal affairs report says they can't tell whether the crimes did or didn't occur, so they couldn't prove it either way.
The other allegation -- refusing to give his name or badge number -- was sustained. The report states the cops watched the video of Hamilton approach Overcash with a pen and paper and ask for his name and badge number -- which he didn't get.
In a memo to Police Chief Franklin Adderley, Capt. Rick Maglione writes that Hamilton's "motives and credibility regarding this indicent were questionable."
Maglione says Hamilton was dishonest about "several minor factors," including his smoking habits and how much he'd been drinking that night.
Maglione also notes that Hamilton "was involved in an eerily similar incident in 2008."
The documentation of this incident articulated that Mr. Hamilton was ordered to leave after a dispute with a citizen over the repossession of a vehicle. Mr. Hamilton was reported to have moved his truck, then returned to the scene and became disorderly while demanding the Deputies' names and badge numbers. He was subsequently arrested.
In other words, 18 months after the fact, we're still just about where we were when Hamilton released the video of the event.
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