ORLANDO, Fla.
An Orlando police officer seen on video apparently pushing a woman down some stairs for no apparent reason could face criminal charges, Chief Val Demings said.
Jessica Asprilla, 27, was seen on video apparently being pushed down some steps by Officer Fernando Trinidad, who was working off duty at the now-defunct Club Paris in downtown Orlando.
The incident resulted in a battery charge against the woman. However, when prosecutors saw the tape, they immediately dropped the charges.
Asprilla filed a complaint after the incident that led to an Orlando police investigation of Trinidad.
Now, the department has found enough evidence of possible criminal behavior to forward it to the state attorney's office for review.
"When one is accused of doing something that is totally outside of our rules and regulations then we have to deal with it," Demings said. "We've relieved Officer (Fernando) Trinidad of duty, which means we suspended his police powers."
While the state attorney's office decides if it will move forward with criminal charges against Trinidad, he will take on administrative duties.
"He's still getting to work and getting paid for it," Aspirlla said. "So, really there hasn't been a change as far as I'm concerned."
Demings did not speculate about Trinidad's future with the department.
"We will just have to deal with that once the state attorney has an opportunity to review the case," Demings said.
It is not known how long the state attorney's office will review the case.
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