NewsHound
07-03-2008, 10:29 PM
A jail booking photo and his diamond stud earrings landed John Lagrua back behind bars accused of lying to police.
After his arrest at a Publix store in May, John Lagrua complained that Aventura police beat him and stole his jewelry.
But when an internal affairs investigator reviewed his jail booking photo, he saw no bruises -- and his studs still pinned in his lobes, Aventura police said.
On Monday, police charged Lagrua, 39, with making a false official statement. ''If we find out you lied and were trying to make accusations that did not occur against our officers, we're going to file charges against you,'' warned Aventura Capt. William ''Skip'' Washa.
Lagrua, of Aventura, on Tuesday admitted he was wrong about his earrings, gold chain and watch -- they were actually in a jail property room. But he swears officers roughed him up.
''These officers cannot be trusted. They're 21 years old and think they own the world. They walk around with their guns and badges like it's the Wild, Wild West,'' Lagrua said.
Lagrua makes custom designs for fish-themed apparel maker Guy Harvey.
The arrest took place at Publix, 18995 Biscayne Blvd., on May 30. Officers Nick D'Arpino and Luis Chaidez said he was ''walking back and forth in the deli area'' with a large knife in his back pocket.
''After a short struggle,'' Lagrua was cuffed. He ''had a strong smell of alcohol coming from his person,'' an arrest report said.
Aventura police charged him with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest without violence and carrying a concealed weapon. The last charge was thrown out by a Miami-Dade judge; the kitchen knife ''was in plain view,'' the report said.
At Publix, Lagrua -- not using a cart -- grabbed a chicken and packaged kitchen knife.
''Instead of walking around looking like Rambo with a knife and a chicken in my hands, I put the knife in my back pocket,'' he said. ``I had a nice polo shirt on . . . I think I look like Mel Gibson. I don't look like a criminal.''
Lagrua said officers beat him with a baton in the store and with fists in the police car. After posting bail, Lagrua complained to internal affairs Sgt. Michael Mauer, saying he received a cut to the bridge of his nose.
But Mauer found photos of Lagrua taken at the station and later Miami-Dade County Jail clearly showed earrings and no nose injury.
On Monday, Mauer took a taped official statement before arresting him. ''I conducted a thorough investigation and concluded that [he] lied,'' Mauer wrote.
Source (http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/590466.html)
After his arrest at a Publix store in May, John Lagrua complained that Aventura police beat him and stole his jewelry.
But when an internal affairs investigator reviewed his jail booking photo, he saw no bruises -- and his studs still pinned in his lobes, Aventura police said.
On Monday, police charged Lagrua, 39, with making a false official statement. ''If we find out you lied and were trying to make accusations that did not occur against our officers, we're going to file charges against you,'' warned Aventura Capt. William ''Skip'' Washa.
Lagrua, of Aventura, on Tuesday admitted he was wrong about his earrings, gold chain and watch -- they were actually in a jail property room. But he swears officers roughed him up.
''These officers cannot be trusted. They're 21 years old and think they own the world. They walk around with their guns and badges like it's the Wild, Wild West,'' Lagrua said.
Lagrua makes custom designs for fish-themed apparel maker Guy Harvey.
The arrest took place at Publix, 18995 Biscayne Blvd., on May 30. Officers Nick D'Arpino and Luis Chaidez said he was ''walking back and forth in the deli area'' with a large knife in his back pocket.
''After a short struggle,'' Lagrua was cuffed. He ''had a strong smell of alcohol coming from his person,'' an arrest report said.
Aventura police charged him with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest without violence and carrying a concealed weapon. The last charge was thrown out by a Miami-Dade judge; the kitchen knife ''was in plain view,'' the report said.
At Publix, Lagrua -- not using a cart -- grabbed a chicken and packaged kitchen knife.
''Instead of walking around looking like Rambo with a knife and a chicken in my hands, I put the knife in my back pocket,'' he said. ``I had a nice polo shirt on . . . I think I look like Mel Gibson. I don't look like a criminal.''
Lagrua said officers beat him with a baton in the store and with fists in the police car. After posting bail, Lagrua complained to internal affairs Sgt. Michael Mauer, saying he received a cut to the bridge of his nose.
But Mauer found photos of Lagrua taken at the station and later Miami-Dade County Jail clearly showed earrings and no nose injury.
On Monday, Mauer took a taped official statement before arresting him. ''I conducted a thorough investigation and concluded that [he] lied,'' Mauer wrote.
Source (http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/590466.html)