The Cuban actor William Levy has returned to media attention in recent hours following the release of a video that reveals, for the first time, the exact moment of his arrest that took place in April of this year in Weston, Florida.
The images, released by the network Telemundo 51, show Levy being handcuffed by a police officer outside a restaurant.
In the clip, Levy is seen, visibly bewildered by the situation, as he is being held by the officer.
“I haven't done anything,” the actor insists in English, placing his hands on his chest in a gesture of surprise.
An officer, who interacts in Spanish, replies: "They told you that you had to leave and you didn’t. "
In response to that statement, Levy reacts with surprise and asks: "Who told me I had to leave?", trying to understand the origin of the conflict.
According to what is heard in the video, the agent argues that it was the establishment's manager who requested his removal from the premises, although Levy seems to be unaware of that instruction.
At all times the interpreter reacts calmly and in a low voice, although it is certainly apparent that he speaks in a slurred manner, as if he is under the influence of alcoholic beverages.
The recording has sparked mixed reactions on social media, especially since until now, the case was only known through police reports and court documents.
Many consider it inappropriate for the images to be leaked now, when the case has already been dismissed and resolved through the alternative route of the Minor Offense Diversion Program
The circumstances of the arrest in Weston
The arrest took place outside a restaurant in the city of Weston, in the northwest part of Broward County.
Levy was arrested on suspicion of disorderly intoxication and burglary, and was subsequently taken to the Main Jail of Broward County.
He spent the night in custody and was released the next day after paying a bail of 500 dollars.
The official documents indicated three formal charges: disorderly intoxication; disorderly intoxication in a public place; and trespassing.
Although the reports provided a technical description of the events, the video released by Telemundo 51 offers a visual component that adds new layers of interpretation to the incident.
Of the charges at the close of the case: An alternative process
What could have ended in a trial was instead resolved through the alternative route of the Minor Offense Diversion Program, supervised by the Broward Sheriff's Office.
According to the County Prosecutor's Office, Levy -registered in court documents under his legal name William Gutiérrez- was admitted to the program as a first-time offender.
"As a first-time offender, the accused was eligible to enter the program, which he successfully completed. In all cases with registered victims, admission to the program is not allowed without the prior consent of the victim," explained Paula McMahon, communications director for Prosecutor Harold F. Pryor.
This program is designed to offer a second chance to those who commit minor offenses for the first time.
Instead of facing a traditional criminal process, participants must take responsibility for their actions and comply with certain conditions under supervision.
What was the program that Levy completed?
The Misdemeanor Diversion Program requires defendants to meet a series of specific requirements:
-Accept responsibility immediately.
- To be under surveillance by the Sheriff's Division of Probation.
-Submit to evaluations, treatments, or community service.
-Pay the applicable administrative fees.
In Levy's case, an official document issued on September 29 confirmed that he had successfully met all the imposed conditions.
As a result, the program supervisors recommended that the charges be formally withdrawn, which took place in October.
“This program gives a second chance to those who take responsibility for their actions and seek rehabilitation. If they do not comply, the case returns to court for processing,” McMahon added.
Thanks to the full compliance with the requirements, William Levy will not face any additional legal consequences.
Your judicial record has been marked as "case closed due to successful completion of the program,” which means that there are no criminal records or formal convictions against you.
The actor, known for residing between Miami and Los Angeles, was thus exempt from major legal complications, although the incident has generated a wave of comments, both regarding the police treatment shown in the video and the handling of the judicial process.
The publication of the video has reopened the debate about the use of diversion programs in the U.S. justice system, especially when it involves public figures.
While some believe that the process was fair and that the video reflects a moderate response from the authorities, others question whether the actor's status influenced the outcome of the case.
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