ACLU of Florida Settles Over Wrongful Arrest

The ACLU of Florida says it’s reached a settlement with the city of Miami Beach over the wrongful arrest of a man who called 911 to report two police officers beating and kicking a handcuffed gay man.

Under the settlement reached Monday, the city must pay Harold Strickland $75,000 and enact new policies regarding the reporting of police misconduct.

The suit claims Strickland was near a South Beach park in March 2009 when he saw the officers beating a gay man. After shouting anti-gay epithets at Strickland, the officers arrested him, contending he was trying to break into parked cars. The charges were later dropped.

The officers – Frankly Forte and Eliut Hazzi – were fired last week.

A request seeking comment from the city wasn’t immediately answered.