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Witness: Police Pointed Gun at Us, Smashed Cell Phone For Filming Fatal Shooting

Witness: Police Pointed Gun at Us, Smashed Cell Phone For Filming Fatal Shooting

"My phone was smashed - he stepped on it, handcuffed me."

Dramatic video out of Miami, FL, taken by two bystanders, shows what happened during the wee hours of Memorial Day. A police chase ended in the injuries of four bystanders and the death of 22-year-old suspect Raymond Harisse after several officers opened fire on him. But that dramatic video is exacerbated by additional footage that appears to show police turning on those who filmed it.

Two bystanders say police held a gun to their head, took one of their phones, smashed it, and then placed it back in one of their jean pockets. They also claim officers did the same thing to others they suspected of filming the shooting.

Narces Benoit and his girlfriend, Ericka Davis, described what happened to CNN, and said the only reason the video survived is because Benoit saved it to his SIM card and then hid it in his mouth:

The Daily Mail reports:

Mr Benoit claimed a police officer jumped into his truck when he noticed him recording video on his mobile phone, and put a pistol to his head.

‘My phone was smashed - he stepped on it, handcuffed me,’ he told CNN.

He said he only still has the footage because he took the memory card out of the phone and put it in his mouth before handing over the device.

A Miami police spokesman said he could not comment on eyewitness handling as an internal investigation or civil lawsuit may be launched.

But he confirmed police were looking for other suspects after the shooting.

However Ms Davis told CNN they were handled like ‘criminals’ and police ‘took everyone's phones and smashed them’.

Mr Benoit, who was questioned and released, said he is considering suing police over his treatment.

Local station WPLG-TV interviewed Benoit's attorney, who said Benoit was not found to have any weapons on him. The station also had a camera confiscated by police on the same morning.

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