Related videos:
A 27-year-old officer from the Miami Police Department, identified as Stephany Cañizares, was arrested following a domestic altercation with her partner, who is also a police officer.
The incident, which occurred last weekend, involved the firing of a firearm in front of the home they share with their five-month-old daughter.
The incident resulted in the imprisonment of Cañizares—whose nationality of origin has not been disclosed—for charges of aggravated assault and discharging a firearm in public.
The origin of the dispute
According to court documents and the arrest report -mentioned by local press- the conflict arose after Cañizares discovered "inappropriate messages" on his partner's cell phone.
The discussion escalated quickly. According to what the man told the authorities, he found the officer speaking on the phone outside the house with a gun in her hand. Shortly thereafter, he heard what he interpreted as a gunshot.
Three hours later, it was Cañizares herself who called 911 to report that she had fired her weapon and to express her intention to surrender.
In her testimony to the police, she also stated that her boyfriend had been holding her against her will, although she indicated that she escaped when the officers arrived.
During the police intervention, the boyfriend—and father of her daughter—told the officers that he feared for the baby's safety and for that reason took his own gun and locked himself in a room with the child.
The police noted that Cañizares displayed unusual behavior during her arrest, which led to her being taken to a medical center for evaluation before being taken to jail.
Court hearing: No probable cause for felony charges
Cañizares appeared before a bail judge this Monday, and his partner also participated remotely via Zoom. The statement provided by the man proved crucial in the preliminary resolution of the case:
“Do you fear the accused?”
“No, sir, I do not fear, and I did not fear at the time of the incident," assured the young woman's partner.
In light of this, the judge ruled that there was no probable cause to maintain the charge of aggravated assault, nor to uphold the charge of discharging a firearm in public in its most serious form.
A bail of $500 was set, which was paid that same day. The officer was released from the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center (TGK) and was allowed to return home under a modified restraining order.
From public institutional figure to arrest photo
The case has caused shock due to the fact that it involves an officer with some notoriety within the police force. Stephany Cañizares was a prominent figure in institutional events.
Four years ago, she sang the national anthem during the swearing-in ceremony of the current Chief of the Miami Police, Manny Morales, and appeared in official photographs alongside high-ranking officials of the department.
Her public image, associated with ceremonies and formal events, contrasts sharply with the recent photograph taken at the time of her arrest, in which she is seen wearing a hospital gown and handcuffed, after being assessed for irregular behavior.
Separated from the position with pay
In a statement sent to local media, the Miami Police Department confirmed that the officer “has been relieved of her duties with pay”, while an active internal investigation into the incident is underway.
At the moment, Cañizares is only facing a minor charge related to the improper use of a firearm in public, although his employment and legal situation could change depending on the results of the ongoing investigation.
Filed under: