Former Miami Police Officer Sentenced 30 Days For Placing Knee On Pregnant Black Woman’s Neck

A former police officer in Florida who was seen on video placing his knee into the neck of a pregnant Black woman in January 2020 has been sentenced to 30 days in jail.

According to WSVN, Jordy Martel then employed at the Miami Gardens Police Department, was convicted in June on misdemeanor charges of battery and trespassing for his role in the arrest of Safiya Satchell.

The former police officer attacked Satchell in front of Tootsie’s Cabaret, at 150 NW 183 St., in Miami.

Along with the 30-day sentence, Martel is required to complete 250 hours of community service by speaking to students at schools. After completion of the community service, he will then be on probation for 18 months.

Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Marisa Tinkler Mendez, who sentenced the 33-year-old said, “This is a case of abuse of authority.”

Satchell was in court on Aug. 30 and said, “He changed me as a person, mentally and physically, and I’ve accepted, due to his actions, I’ll never be the same.”

After the sentencing, Satchell gave her opinion of the judge’s decision.

“I feel like justice was served somewhat. He is serving a little bit of jail time, so I’m thankful for that,” she said.

Satchell’s attorney, Jonathan Jordan, also gave a statement: “A jury and this honorable court have sent a message that it’s not OK for an officer to rip a woman out of her car, and throw her on the ground and Tase her for doing nothing wrong.”

Video of the incident, filmed by a bystander, showed Martel dragging Satchell out of her car and forcing her down on a grass verge by the roadside. Martel used a Taser on the Black woman two times; another police officer held Satchell’s arm as she tried to free herself.

Satchell was four months pregnant at the time and later had a miscarriage. Martel also filed a false police report.