Tremaine McMillian, 14, was spending time with friends and family at Miami Beach when he was approached by police. After roughhousing with a friend at the beach, the police ordered them to stop fighting. But once the police officer realized the teens were playing, he still asked McMillian to identify his mother.
According to the officer, McMillian decided to pull away from officers. But McMillian says he was holding his puppy when an officer slapped the puppy out of his hand, slammed him on the pavement and began choking him.
McMillian’s mother Maurissa Holmes screamed for officers to stop as she filmed the assault on her cell phone. The police officers later said they felt threatened because McMillian gave them “dehumanizing” stares and had his fists balled. However, McMillian said he never had his fists balled because he was holding his puppy. The dog was injured during the confrontation. Police later said they weren’t concerned about the puppy at the time.
McMillian was charged with resisting arrest with violence and will become a felon at 14 if he’s convicted. In turn, a felony conviction will follow him for life and could prevent him from getting a job and other important opportunities that may occur in the future.
McMillian’s trial will start on July 16.
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