UPDATED: Christi Tasker, a two-time candidate for Miami Commission in District 2, was arrested last week after she allegedly interrupted a police traffic stop in her Brickell neighborhood. A video taken by an anonymous passerby shows she was forcibly taken to the ground before she was handcuffed.
At one point, it looks like an officer placed a foot or a knee on her back. This incident may become a problem for police, who look like they may have overreached.
Tasker, 48, was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest without violence. She screamed “Help me,” as she was thrown on the ground and physically restrained by more than one officer as another officer yelled at spectators to get back and threatened them with arrest as well, according to a video taken by someone at the scene.
“Get back! Get back! You’re going to jail! Get back,” he shouted.
And the whole episode really looks like a foreshadow of more future arrests, now that Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed Senate Bill 184, which makes it a second degree misdemeanor to get within 25 feet of a cop or firefighter after receiving a verbal warning to step back. Law enforcement call it the “halo bill” because it’s supposed to protect them. Protect them from what? From lawsuits? The legislation is solely aimed at stopping the proliferation of bad cop videos on social media.
Thank goodness all our phones have good zoom.
The incident occurred at about 12:20 p.m. on the 100 block of Southeast 25th Road, where Tasker apparently lives, and an officer made a traffic stop. Tasker and “several other persons began surrounding the officer recording him from a close distance, with the defendant at several points leaning on the white Audi near the driver’s door, interfering with the officer’s traffic stop,” the arrest report says.
The officer asked Tasker to move back and requested emergency backup. “He was on the scene by himself and the defendant and others’ actions were erratic and creating what could be an unsafe condition for the driver and the officer,” the report states.
The former candidate allegedly tells the driver to take off, saying “If he’s going to ticket you, he can ticket you in your own parking space, essentially telling the driver to flee from the officer’s traffic stop,” according to the arresting officer.
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When back-up arrived, they gave Tasker, who was standing next to the Audi, “several orders to step away and onto the sidewalk.” A Sgt. Valdes asked her to stand back. Another sergeant, a Sgt. Reyes (Miami PD has not provided Political Cortadito with first names), stepped in between her and the other officers, the report states, telling her “Ma’am, you’re interfering with a traffic stop,” while the others continued to direct her to the sidewalk.
“She refused to comply and, in an attempt to subvert the lawful orders, shelved to the passenger side front window of the Audi. She stood directly at the window and raised her arm to continue her recording.”
Ahhh. Is that why the police were so upset that they arrested her and only her?
“Sgt. Reyes once again gave her several orders to step back away from the vehicle in order to allow the other officer to continue conducting the traffic stop uninterrupted,” the report states. “The defendant refused to move back and stated, ‘I don’t have to move back. I am on private property.'”
“She continued to tell Sgt. Reyes that she was on her property.”
That’s when he began to place her under arrest. She apparently resisted.
“He placed a handcuff on her right wrist and told her several times, ‘Put your hand behind your back.’ The defendant refused to comply and tensed her arms and tried to pull away.”
It looks on the video like it took three of them to take her down.
“During the struggle to handcuff the defendant, she fell on top of Sgt. Reyes, immobilizing his legs, making it even more difficult to handcuff the defendant,” which he did once he was able to “free his legs,” the arrest form states. But it doesn’t look that way on the video.
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In the one minute clip, which started late in the game, it shows Tasker being forcibly pushed down by two officers, one of which places his foot or his knee on her back as the other holds her shoulders down on the sidewalk. It’s a little jarring as Tasker repeatedly yells “help,” to whoever was watching.
Shot on a camera phone by someone — Ladra doesn’t know who — the video shows other onlookers also taking video as the police yell at them to “stand back, stand back, stand back. You’re going to go to jail.” Some of the onlookers tried to intervene on Tasker’s behalf. Please call Ladra and send her your video if you can. Political Cortadito has already requested the body cam video from the department.
Tasker, who lost in the November election with 4% of the vote, is also Commissioner Damian Pardo‘s appointment to the code enforcement board. She announced in December that she would run next year against Mayor Francis Suarez.
She did not return a phone call or an email sent to her Wednesday for comment.
Former Miami D2 candidate arrested for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest added by Ladra on
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They did the same to me. I’m waiting for a good lawyer. not corrupt to file a lawsuit and make them pay for what they did to me.
Tasker hates injustice. Let us give her the benefit of the doubt. She might have been defending a neighbor wronged by Police?
” If you think that Law Enforcement can’t be trusted”
Most police are good but you also have bad police and yes a brutal job but graduating from the academy does not mean one has ethics , morals , etc
Beware of the power you give any government agency and say this as someone who never had a ticket .
I will add it is not the same for Blacks as it is for white Hispanics .
I seriously doubt if Haitians or African Americans in Miami had closed a highway , streets for hours the mostly Cuban policia would have treated them with kid gloves .
==============================
” Knowing that the City of Miami Police Department is as corrupt as the City’s leaders,”
I feel for the top notch police who can not do a thing about it . I know a cop from Hialeah who is now further north in state with horror stories about Hialeah policia.
Tasker is a dope, looser. low life hillbilly that thinks she is doing good things. She is a shit talker and agitator .
Low class
Next time taser her! please
Ladra,
Your statement regarding Senate Bill 184 is disgusting and quite disappointing. Avoidable shootings are occurring because Officers are being placed in danger because often they are placed in danger simply because people ignore their commands.
Your statement encourages disrespectful behavior and anti-police. Placing all lives, innocent and non-innocent, in jeopardy.
If you think that Law Enforcement can’t be trusted, then the Media is no better. The Media is no longer neutral. It is bias, fabricates, exaggerates, lies, instigates, and controlled by the left.
I know “The Truth” hurts. Pero mi hermana look in the mirror. I am no questioning your motives, character, and integrity. I can’t ignore that you once worked for the Miami Herald.
We are living in a time when the police are not being respected and are facing serious danger just for doing their job. I have no idea why Ms.Tasker tried to interfere with a traffic stop. (?) I see the wisdom of Gov. DeSantis signing that Bill that states that citizens must stand a certain distance away from police who are performing their duties, The police need protection in today’s violent atmosphere.
I have always agreed with Ms, Tasker’s political ideology but I think she was out of order here. Also, I believe the video shows her standing on the swale and that is not “private property” as she claimed.
She should not have interfered in police business that was of no concern of hers. Shame on you, Ladra, for your one-sided reporting without knowing all the facts.
Defending Tasker is bullshit! she is a crazy ass bit&^.. and moreover unhinged. She interfered in a police matter how is that corruption
This was totally uncalled for, and Eddie L you are not very nice saying that.
She is not a bad person.
Tasker hates corruption. It is no surprise she would speak up if she sees something sleazy being done by Miami Police.
Furthermore! I never had any high hopes for Pardo! The guy is a POS puppet.. Why would you think that is Natalie Lopez? You’re clueless! You need to correct your comment!
ToTheTruthHurts! That Natalie is NOT Natalie Lopez. 🙄 I’m Natalie Lopez. So GFY. You think I’m the only Natalie? You idiot?
Eddy L (Leal), she may be a nut job, but that doesn’t clean your hands from accepting a bribe for an endorsement. Natalie (Lopez) Commissioner Pardo has been a shining light on a sinking ship. These are the actions of an appointee. Once the facts come out, if it was a bona-fide arrest, I am sure he will take the appropriate steps.
Knowing that the City of Miami Police Department is as corrupt as the City’s leaders, I wouldn’t put it past them to overstep their authority and claim “interference” when all one is doing is exercising their first amendment right to sat whatever comes to their mind (as long as it does not incite violence). It may not be polite, it may be profane, but police cannot arrest you because they don’t like what you say.
I am reserving judgement until I see the video, but, there are two potential outcomes here. Tasker went off the deep end, was actually interefering as defined by florida statute and the arrest was righteous, or, Tasker went off the deep end and the cops just got pissed off and used the old interference charade to justify a take down.
The city of miami gives a bad name to all dedicated law enforcement personnel. They should be disbanded immediately and replaced with an ethical department.
I’m not sure what is worse, her behavior or Commissioner Pardo appointing her to the Code Enforcement Board. I had high hopes for Pardo, but his judgment should also be called into question. Disappointing on so many levels.
Oh my god this is too funny, all the bullshit she talked about Covo, Pardo, Leal, and Torres during the campaign is now coming back at her ….wack job…crazy
Pardo if you’re reading this hope you remove her she is a black eye to YOU! And to the city she belongs in a looney bin
Tasker Tasker it all finally catches up with you KARMA is a Bitch