Police body camera footage shows gross restraint of an Italian student in Miami Gardens

NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Florida. – The camera caught a brutal act after a student was accused of punching a police officer.

During his detention, the situation quickly escalated and police said they were forced to detain him.

This began on February 25 at Dean’s Gold Strip Club after the club called police to say the student refused to leave the club.

Officers were called there and arrested 25-year-old Matteo Falcinelli, a Florida International University student who is from Italy. They say he resisted them and attempted to harm himself, which led to him being handcuffed in a cell at the North Miami Beach Police Department.

Video from an officer’s body-worn camera showing the incident has made headlines from South Florida to Italy.

Falcinelli appears to scream in pain as officers apply a belt to bind his arms and legs, but police say the maneuver, which they call a leg hobble, was used for Falcinelli’s own safety.

According to police, this was due to Falcinelli constantly banging his head against the glass of the cell.

North Miami Beach police said the decision to detain him was made for his safety and that they acted in accordance with state standards and department policies.

According to police, Falcinelli resisted their commands at every turn and was eventually held for a total of 13 minutes.

Falcinelli was charged with two counts of assault on a police officer and one count of resisting arrest.