Rome prosecutors probe Falcinelli arrest in Miami

Investigation opened on basis of report from consulate

By: ansa.it

May 10 2024
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Rome prosecutors probe Falcine

Rome prosecutors have opened a probe into the case of Matteo Falcinelli, a 25-year-old from Spoleto who was hogtied by Miami police for 13 minutes after being arrested outside a nightclub in the Florida city in February, sources said on Friday.
    The investigation was opened on the basis of report from the Italian consulate in Miami, the sources said.
    Francesco Maresca, the lawyer of the young student's family, said Falcinelli would file a criminal complaint when he returns to Italy in the next few days after a meeting with prosecutors on Friday.
    Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani is among those to have condemned the violence Falcinelli was subjected to, saying he was "deeply shocked" by it.
    Police Bodycam videos show the 25-year-old being slammed to the ground outside a night club and then tied up, with his ankles bound and his hands behind his back, at a police station.
    During the videos Falcinelli can be heard to say "I'm not resisting", "please", "I'm not doing anything" and, at one point, screaming in pain.
    The family have only recently gone public with what happened after an agreement in which Falcinelli agreed to go on a re-educational program in order to avoid jail time.
    He said he initially offered to pay bail but that was interpreted as an attempted bribe.
    Speaking about the case this week, a US State Department spokesperson told ANSA that "we acknowledge the concerns raised by the Italian government and the Falcinelli family about the circumstances of Matteo's arrest in Miami".