Two police officers accused of police brutality are under investigation by state authorities and prosecutors, the agencies confirmed Wednesday.
Officers Daniel Rodriguez and Jorge Baca arrested teenager Ewan Rose on Nov. 18, more than a year after his acquittal in a sexual battery case. The officers charged Rose, 18, with loitering, battery on a police officer and resisting arrest with violence.
Prosecutors with the Broward State Attorney's Office declined to file charges against Rose in late November.
Since then, a prosecutor with the Special Prosecutions Unit has been looking into claims the officers arrested the teen on false charges, battered him and engaged in official misconduct, State Attorney's Office spokesman Ron Ishoy said in an e-mail Wednesday. Prosecutors are reviewing the case to determine whether criminal charges will be filed.
Tony Livoti, a union attorney who is representing the two officers, could not be reached Wednesday for comment.
On Nov. 27, nine days after Rose's arrest, Sunrise Police Chief John Brooks put Rodriguez, 30, on administrative leave with pay, forcing him to turn in his gun and badge. The same day, Baca, 38, was taken off road patrol and assigned to desk duty. He also had to turn in his gun and badge.
Both officers earn $59,000 a year and joined the department on the same day in October 2007.
Sunrise officers arrested Rose in August 2007 on charges of burglary and sexual battery. A Broward jury acquitted him in the fall of 2008.
His run-in with Rodriguez and Baca came a year later. Brooks and other officials declined to discuss details, citing the open investigation.
Reached at her Sunrise home, Valarie Rose, Ewan's mother, referred all questions to her son's attorney, Jeff Ivashuk, who declined to comment Wednesday.
After learning of Rose's allegations of police brutaility, Brooks said, he referred the case to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney's Office.
The FBI is keeping an eye on the case as well, according to officials. FBI spokeswoman Judy Orihuela said Tuesday she could not comment.
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