MELBOURNE — About 30 people gathered Saturday afternoon in support of Albert Flowers, who was involved in an altercation with a police officer in October.
Some were concerned about what they described as the brutality inflicted on Flowers by Melbourne police officer Derek Middendorf.
Flowers, 66, was arrested Oct. 7 after officers were called to investigate reports of a disturbance involving a man with a knife.
Police said Middendorf arrived with sirens on and turned off the dashboard camera before he stepped out of the patrol car. Police suspected Flowers, owner of a lawn care company, had earlier pulled a knife on an employee. The camera remained on but sent the video to the hard drive, officials reported.
In video later salvaged by technicians, Middendorf is seen kicking and punching Flowers after he fell to the ground. Another officer Tasered Flowers, who has dementia, according to his family.
The Brevard County State Attorney’s Office dropped charges of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest against Flowers last month after learning about the dementia, saying the case would not have been filed had Flowers’ condition been made known earlier.
Assistant State Attorney Wayne Holmes said the use of force, however, “was appropriate,” and that officers do not have to retreat when confronted with the threat of violence.
Middendorf was reprimanded for disabling a dashboard camera in his patrol car before the Oct. 7 incident
When Middendorf returns to duty, he will be reassigned to a different patrol area, according Melbourne Police Chief Steve Mimbs.
But others at the event Saturday disagree with that decision and say more should be done.
“We are here today to let the public know that nothing is being done about the brutal beating of Albert Flowers,” said civil rights activist the Rev. Johnnie Dennis, 59, of Cocoa.
“The first thing you need to do is get him off the streets, because this man is a threat to society. And he is dishonest. He proved that by turning off his dashcam,” Dennis said. “Moving him from the eastside to the westside is not going to do any good. The problem is still there.”
In video later salvaged by technicians, Middendorf is seen kicking and punching Flowers after he fell to the ground. Another officer Tasered Flowers, who has dementia, according to his family.
The Brevard County State Attorney’s Office dropped charges of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest against Flowers last month after learning about the dementia, saying the case would not have been filed had Flowers’ condition been made known earlier.
Assistant State Attorney Wayne Holmes said the use of force, however, “was appropriate,” and that officers do not have to retreat when confronted with the threat of violence.
Middendorf was reprimanded for disabling a dashboard camera in his patrol car before the Oct. 7 incident
When Middendorf returns to duty, he will be reassigned to a different patrol area, according Melbourne Police Chief Steve Mimbs.
But others at the event Saturday disagree with that decision and say more should be done.
“We are here today to let the public know that nothing is being done about the brutal beating of Albert Flowers,” said civil rights activist the Rev. Johnnie Dennis, 59, of Cocoa.
“The first thing you need to do is get him off the streets, because this man is a threat to society. And he is dishonest. He proved that by turning off his dashcam,” Dennis said. “Moving him from the eastside to the westside is not going to do any good. The problem is still there.”