Miami-Dade Police Department Archives

A judge has ordered that Miami-Dade Police Department return $19,934 in cash seized from LizMixell Batista. It was taken from her when police pulled over her husband’s car in the West Little River neighborhood in Miami.

On May 25, Ras Cates cut off a police patrol car, prompting police to pull him over. On examining his vehicle, officers found three rifles and three handguns as well as liquids suspected to be codeine and marijuana oil. Ras’ wife, LizMixell, was in the passenger seat. An officer found the $19,934 in her purse. They seized the cash, weapons, and liquids.

Police charged Ras and LizMixell with armed drug dealing.

Miami-Dade police then appeared on CBS Miami in an exclusive news story where they bragged about the “arsenal or weapons, cash, and illegal drugs” they had found. As a police spokesperson said, “It’s amazing how something as simple as a traffic stop can lead us to crack a lot of cases. … A lot of serial killers are behind bars because of traffic stops.”

Ras and LizMixell hired a lawyer to fight their case. As Ras had explained to the police officer when they were pulled over, he owned the firearms legally. He also possessed a valid concealed carry permit.

As prosecutor Jonathan Nobile explained, the “search of the trunk was illegal.” Footage from an officer’s body camera showed that, although the police were polite, they never obtained permission to search the trunk. Instead, they “commanded” Ras to open it.

Although law enforcement claimed the liquids were marijuana oil and codeine syrup, they had not been taken for testing at a forensics lab. Whether the liquids were, in fact, illegal drugs is unclear.

Jude Faccidomo, an attorney for the defense, said, “What is most disturbing is that immediately following the arrest, the department went on TV and engaged in incendiary speculation without knowing the facts or even acknowledging the rampant violations of my clients’ constitutional rights.”

Once it had been shown that Ras had not given police permission to search the trunk, prosecutors dropped charges against the couple. Despite this, law enforcement did not want to give LizMixell her cash back. Arguing it may be drug money, police began civil asset forfeiture proceedings to keep it. According to civil asset forfeiture law, police can keep seized cash or property without having to bring criminal charges against the owner.

Body-camera footage showed that LizMixell had attempted to explain why she was legitimately carrying so much cash on her. She works as a stripper at the Cheetah Gentleman’s Club in Hallandale Beach, a cash-only job. At the hearing, Haley Heath, who also works at the Cheetah Club, testified that “significant cash tips” were common for strippers at the club.

I felt that the glitter on the seized cash was compelling evidence,” said Faccidomo, “but apparently the police department disagreed.”

Circuit Judge Rodney Smith found there was no probable cause for the seizure and ordered the cash be returned to LizMixell. Additionally, the police department will pay more than $3,000 in legal fees to the couple’s lawyers.

Lawyers for Ras are now attempting to get the police to give him his guns back.

Civil Asset Forfeiture Attorney

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Sources

2018-07-06 Miami Police Return $20K in Glittery Cash Illegally Seized From Stripper

2018-07-06 ‘We Got Bills to Pay, Sweetie.’ Cops Forced to Return Stripper’s $19,934 in Cash

Officer Alfred Bryant of the North Miami Police Department was arrested on April 9 after he allegedly had a verbal altercation with his wife that turned physical. Bryant, 43, faces a battery charge. The press did not list an attorney for him.

According to Bryant’s statement to Miami-Dade police, the alleged altercation occurred in the kitchen of his home. He and his wife reportedly got into an argument about dinner. Bryant wanted to go out for dinner with his wife and three children, but his wife reportedly told him that she had already cooked food for herself and that he should go out with the kids to get dinner.

Bryant told detectives that he became upset because his wife had only cooked for herself and not their children, so he went to the kitchen to cook for the children and that was when the verbal altercation started. Bryant allegedly splashed soapy water at his wife’s face from the kitchen sink. His wife responded by picking up a frying pan and walking toward him with it, and then the argument got physical.

Bryant reportedly grabbed his wife’s wrist and put his arm around her neck as he tried to wrestle the pan from her. He told detectives that he was wearing socks and lost his footing, causing him and his wife to fall to the floor. After the fall, Bryant retrieved the frying pan and his wife went to the master bedroom to console their youngest child, who was reportedly crying.

Bryant’s wife told a different version of events. According to her, her husband grabbed her neck, flipped her onto the floor and smacked her head on the ground twice. She told detectives that Bryant only stopped hitting her when their children begged him to stop.

Bryant has worked for the North Miami Police Department for 14 years and he has been named officer of the month on three different occasions. It is unclear if his arrest will affect his employment with the police department.

Another case of domestic violence involving a police officer was also reported last week. Officer Alexander Cornelius Bradley of the Miami-Dade Police Department was arrested on April 2 after he allegedly struck his wife during an argument in their car.

Bradley, 28, is being charged with aggravated battery. It is unclear if he has acquired the services of an attorney.

According to the arrest report, the couple were driving home when the alleged altercation occurred. Bradley and his wife had gone to see a Katt Williams comedy show on Saturday night and then went to dinner with some friends at a restaurant.

After dinner, Bradley went to get the car, and that was when a friend reportedly showed his wife a video of him “dancing inappropriately” with another woman. Bradley’s wife confronted him about the video during the ride home and their argument got physical.

Bradley’s wife suffered serious injuries to her face, including a fractured orbital and a laceration above her left eye that required stitches. She also suffered injuries to her nose and mouth, the arrest report said. She was taken to Ryder Trauma Center for treatment.

Bradley told detectives that he struck his wife in self-defense because she was the “initial attacker.” He reportedly only suffered a scratch on his neck from the altercation. According to Miami-Dade police, Bradley has been with the department for eight years. He was relieved of duty with pay pending the outcome of the investigation.

Sources: 4.10.17 Bryant Accused of Beating Wife.pdf & 4.4.17 Bradley Accused of Beating Wife.pdf

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