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OFFICE MITAT (MIAMI BEACH) ON DESK DUTY PENDING INVESTIGATION.
This was forwarded to the FACDL listserv and is based on a CBS 4 investigation. It's weird to say the least, and tragic:
A 2006 Mercedes took the southbound ramp of the Turnpike at Bird Road and was seen on camera weaving out of its lane before crashing into the toll plaza. The driver, 29-year-old Leingke Perez, was a bartender at Mango's Cafe on South Beach. She was airlifted to the hospital but died.
On the surface, this could be seen as just another tragic traffic accident, but it's what happened after the crash that has drawn the attention of the Florida Highway Patrol.
Surveillance cameras at the toll plaza caught the accident. Seconds after Perez's Mercedes is seen crashing, a Miami-Beach police cruiser appears on camera on the state security video pulling into the parking lot. The driver, apparently Officer Osvaldo Mitat of the Miami Beach Police Department, was seen running towards the crash.
Twenty seconds later, Officer Mitat is seen on camera, appearing to be tossing bottles from the car. He does not appear to be rendering aid to the victim of the accident or calling 911 to ask for help. From the camera's perspective, investigators determined Mitat tossed the bottles toward a retention pond.
The next day, Mitat came back to the scene apparently to retrieve the bottles. He was met by FHP investigators who told him they had collected the bottles as evidence.
Why was officer Mitat so interested in clearing Leingke Perez's car of bottles? It's unclear right now. But we have learned he not only worked off-duty detail at Mangos but that he was dating bartender Leingke Perez....
On the surface, this could be seen as just another tragic traffic accident, but it's what happened after the crash that has drawn the attention of the Florida Highway Patrol.
Surveillance cameras at the toll plaza caught the accident. Seconds after Perez's Mercedes is seen crashing, a Miami-Beach police cruiser appears on camera on the state security video pulling into the parking lot. The driver, apparently Officer Osvaldo Mitat of the Miami Beach Police Department, was seen running towards the crash.
Twenty seconds later, Officer Mitat is seen on camera, appearing to be tossing bottles from the car. He does not appear to be rendering aid to the victim of the accident or calling 911 to ask for help. From the camera's perspective, investigators determined Mitat tossed the bottles toward a retention pond.
The next day, Mitat came back to the scene apparently to retrieve the bottles. He was met by FHP investigators who told him they had collected the bottles as evidence.
Why was officer Mitat so interested in clearing Leingke Perez's car of bottles? It's unclear right now. But we have learned he not only worked off-duty detail at Mangos but that he was dating bartender Leingke Perez....
Sources say the couple lived with each other, and the officer was separated from his wife but is still married.
"I don't know of his life or nothing; I just know he's a great guy, and they used to love each other very much so," said Crosby.
CBS4 visited Perez's home Wednesday and found officer Mitat's patrol car in her driveway. He did not answer the door.
Miami Beach police are not saying much about what happened except for a brief statement, "The department is shadowing the investigation being conducted by the Florida Highway Patrol...."
Late Wednesday afternoon Detective Juan Sanchez of the Miami Beach Police department told CBS4's David Sutta they hadn't taken action because they were waiting for FHP to finish their investigation. However, by Wednesday night, Officer Mitat had been placed on desk duty pending the outcome of the investigation.
The Florida Highway Patrol would not comment on its investigation. They are awaiting reports to determine whether Leingke Perez was intoxicated when the crash happened. Officer Mitat remains on duty while the investigation continues.
"I don't know of his life or nothing; I just know he's a great guy, and they used to love each other very much so," said Crosby.
CBS4 visited Perez's home Wednesday and found officer Mitat's patrol car in her driveway. He did not answer the door.
Miami Beach police are not saying much about what happened except for a brief statement, "The department is shadowing the investigation being conducted by the Florida Highway Patrol...."
Late Wednesday afternoon Detective Juan Sanchez of the Miami Beach Police department told CBS4's David Sutta they hadn't taken action because they were waiting for FHP to finish their investigation. However, by Wednesday night, Officer Mitat had been placed on desk duty pending the outcome of the investigation.
The Florida Highway Patrol would not comment on its investigation. They are awaiting reports to determine whether Leingke Perez was intoxicated when the crash happened. Officer Mitat remains on duty while the investigation continues.