He punched me in the face. We're 10:15. >> I have no idea where the other half of my radio is. That's why I'm on the phone. >> Tell dispatch. Tell dispatch we're okay. >> We're 10:15. But I need you doing this. >> I didn't do this, ma'am. You >> okay? >> No, I didn't. >> I didn't. >> Oh, yeah. He got me good. On December 22nd, 2022 at Tampa International Airport in Florida, airport police responded to an intoxicated passenger in a restricted airside terminal area. The subject was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, a thirdderee felony carrying up to 5 years in state prison. This is that encounter. What makes this stop analytically significant is the moment a community caretaking contact became a felony arrest and who caused that transformation. >> Bro, I didn't do this. >> Officer, >> you know, I'm a better person. >> Let me get going on this, man. I don't know what else to say. >> Well, let's see what happens when she gets back. Hopefully, she's got your bag >> and then you hop on your Uber and get to go. >> Oh, is this the fish that's going to >> cuz you know I didn't have [ __ ] on my bag, right? >> Besides, we just we just wanted you to get >> besides my shooters. Yeah. You You already saw that on the cam. >> No, >> you can't you can't That was at the other airport. Wait a minute. Were you Were y'all stinging me? >> What are you talking about? >> We are here cuz you keep Wait a minute. For what? Why are you >> Okay, >> you couldn't even have a cigarette. >> Like cigarette. >> That's all I wanted. >> I want to shut the gohead and get a cigarette. Just calm down. >> Give me Give me out of here. >> As soon as we get your bag, >> right? Cuz then if you don't have your bag, >> can I have my two other shooters? >> I'll get >> cuz I still have leftovers. >> I do have leftover shooters. >> Okay. >> Can you go ahead and take me so I can go to the gas station? >> Okay. Okay. Well, let's let's wait on her >> so you can clear me. >> Okay. >> Cuz Hey, cuz my dad is going to ask you. >> All right. I'm not going to say a word. I'm not clear. All right. I'll I'll tell dad you are good to go. Is dad coming to get you or I thought you said Uber's coming to get you. >> Where are we? >> In Tampa, Florida. >> Dad is not coming. >> Uber's coming. >> Can I have those shots from >> I'm not going to take them from you. >> No, I'm saying can you tell dad? I didn't know you knew my dad. >> I don't know your dad. >> I don't I don't I don't know who that is. I >> mean, obviously he's your dad. Where you from? >> You don't have I'm from Fort Missouri. >> Oh, okay. I'm not trying to step on anybody else's toes. But >> you're not stepping on my toes. You were just going the wrong way. >> You do not have to tell me. >> I won't tell them. You can tell them whatever you want to tell them. >> I'm not going to tell them anything. >> I'm not a liar or something to tell them that y'all stung me up. >> Okay, you tell them whatever you want to tell them. >> Is it okay if I pay you on the debt? >> I don't need nothing from you. >> But I kind of had to. But he's do not [ __ ] >> Okay. Please. >> I'm going to have to call him right now. What is your name? Cuz you are a very nice person. >> I just told you I was Mike. >> I know. >> And my last name Ruiz. That's all good. >> We're all good. >> What is your name? >> We're all good. I'm Mike. >> Mike. >> Mike. >> Yep. >> What's your last name? >> Ruiz. >> Are you taking over? >> Yeah, cuz it didn't seem like you liked him. >> Well, I don't I don't like >> We're waiting. Um, she's checking cuz he thinks he left something on the airplane. >> He what? >> He left something on the airplane. So that's what we're waiting on. >> He's very intoxicated and he forgets lots of stuff. He keeps saying the same thing over and over again. >> Like our current sheriff. >> Okay. >> So it is kind of like >> we don't work for the sheriff. So we don't always like we don't like our current sheriff all the time either. >> I'm sure you've seen Dutton. >> And I'm not threatening you with any of that. I just love uh Kevin Coser's new show. It's pretty bad. >> But that's it. So that's all I have to say. >> He kept trying No, no, he's here from Missouri. He kept trying to go the wrong way of TSA and that's what caught my eye and then the TSA guy walked down here cuz he said he forgot the uh um something on the plane. So the lady's actually down there looking out. Mike. >> Okay. Okay. This is this is Gary. >> Gary, >> what's up, brother? How you doing? >> It's very nice to meet you, brother. >> All right. Just give us a second. We're going to get your stuff. >> Hi. >> Don't you want your backpack? You want to go look? >> Yeah. I'm >> right there with you. There you go. >> He got somebody coming to pick him up. >> Uh, an Uber. >> So, I just wanted to make sure we were going to talk. >> We didn't even know he was here in Florida. >> I was thinking signal 20. I smell alcohol. There's definitely >> actually I don't have anybody in town. Got a good Uber in >> Uber app. Man, I >> supposedly Drew did have good. >> You here to visit somebody in Tampa? >> Yep. >> Yeah, just my brother. I've never been down here before. That's what I'm saying. >> Good, man. Good. I hope you enjoy. >> That's why I was asking. Is there anything we need to do while I'm down here? The >> bush gardens. Pretty cool. Um, >> now is that uh there's some flowers and stuff? >> No, no, no. It's got uh roller coasters and stuff. It's pretty. >> I'm cool with that cuz I I live in Missouri, so >> Okay. Yeah, it's good stuff. >> Disney World's pretty close. You got SeaWorld's pretty close. Everything's within an hour, too. >> I'm a huge fan of reptiles, dude. That's That's >> There's There's a couple places you can go for that, too. So, Gator Land. >> Pretty good sky. Be cool. Yeah. I really just want to go a place I can have a cigarette. >> Well, you'll be there in a few minutes. You're just going to >> Your cigarettes in your backpack? >> Uh, yes. They'd be on my u on the top of the park. >> Did we find his backpack? >> Actually, I have my lighter one of the short ones right here. You have a suitcase. [music] >> Did you have a suitcase? >> Yeah, I have a carry-on suitcase. It's um It starts with this. See, >> we can bring it up here through the security issues. Um so, [music] it will be in the baggage. >> It's baggage. >> We'll take Okay. All right. We'll take you to where it's at. It's where all the It's where all the bags are. >> Yeah. All the bag It's been taken up where all the baggage is at. >> Come on. >> Let's go, man. >> Yeah. Can I just ask you? Yeah. I don't want them touch. >> Look, we're just taking you there. We're not touching it. I just want to >> It'll be on the cigarette. [music] So, grab the cigarette. >> It's already gone. >> When you go downstairs, [music] >> it's already gone. They already put it on the container. >> But you heard what I said, though. >> 103 control. The three of us, myself, 139, and our passenger, we're all going down to blue baggage. >> There's no way I can cigarette roll. >> But you don't have one. >> I don't. That's why we got to go down to your bag and get it. >> Actually, what happened to all my baggage and stuff? >> It It'll be here. >> Your baggage? >> It's going to be over here. >> That's where we're going. >> You really think they're not going to scramble through? think 2 hours because I didn't do anything wrong. >> Yeah, you're good. >> Cuz you all know I didn't. >> No, you're good. >> Whatever this is going on. >> No, you're good, man. >> So, why not being dragged? >> You're not being dragged. We're just helping out. >> We're just helping. >> Help with me. >> It'll get you where you need to go quicker. >> No, no, no. >> Yeah, I I'll be back for it. on the train. >> Clayton, come on. No, >> we're going to we're going to miss the train. >> Nope. >> Clayton, this is going to go south really fast. >> Get your ass on that train right now. >> You saw I'm refusing. I'm refusing. >> Okay. >> Hey, man. We're trying to get you to your stuff. >> Your stuff's going to disappear. Your cigarettes are going to disappear. >> I don't care about these people. No, I didn't do anything wrong to jail. Leave me alone. Let me go on my flight. Leave me alone. Go away. >> Just need these people to leave me alone. Let me my scene. >> Once you get over there, >> can you call your brother so I can talk to him? >> How about you leave me alone? [laughter] >> What do you think my brother is going to do? >> All right, you brother. >> We're trying to help you. >> Call my brother. >> Yeah, call him. We're trying to help you. You understand that? >> We just got a 911 call. >> Oh, now all of a sudden you're being nice. >> I wasn't mean to you. Who's being mean to you? >> I didn't say you were >> No, we're trying to help you, man. Your all your stuff, all your stuff, your your luggage and everything is over here. That's where we're trying to get you over there to get your stuff so you can have your cigarette. >> That's what we're trying to do. We're just here to help you. 103. >> That's fine. Take over. >> Well, come on. Let's go. >> That's fine. >> Go ahead. Cool. >> Anybody else over there going to be >> uh Gary and I got this >> here. Hold on to it. You you hit me. YOU HELP ME. HELP ME. >> That's all right. We got it. We got it. We got it. Slide over. Help me. Help me. CL Clayton, you know I'M NOT A VIOLENT PERSON. CLAYTON, these people are dirty officers and they're going to kill me. Please God, help me. Please God, >> just hold on to them for a minute. >> Please God, they're hurting me. [screaming] >> Me. I thought they were lying, but they're >> We're trying to help you this whole time >> and you're acting crazy. >> You're acting crazy, man. For nothing. >> You're good. Just hang on to them. Oh my god. >> Okay. Put your hand behind your back. >> Put your hand behind your back. The other hand. Slide over. Slide over. Mike. >> Yeah. Yeah. I'm holding it. >> Slide over. >> Slide over. >> Put your hand behind your BACK NOW. NOW PUT IT BEHIND YOUR BACK. Now >> enough all of this for nothing. You know all of this you were here to help you and and you turned this into a nightmare. You know that >> the doors are closing. Please wait for the next caution. Do not enter the door. >> Okay, you guys. You don't have to hurt. >> Come here. You don't have to hurt me anymore. >> Nobody's hurting you. Nobody's hurting you. >> You drugg me up after a bull. >> When I flip you, you lay flat here. >> How about I JUST FLAT THERE? >> You already BEAT ME TO DEATH. >> JUST LAY FLAT. >> YOU ALREADY HEARD ME. >> LAY FLAT. RELAX. >> YOU, MAN. >> RELAX. >> YOU ALREADY HEARD ME. >> RELAX. >> I didn't even do anything. You're not GETTING AWAY WITH IT. YOU, MAN. >> RELAX. >> You relax. >> Yo, get Don't get away with this. CORPORAL, COME HERE QUICK. [screaming] GET OVER HERE. CORPORAL AMERICA. >> We're 10:15. Tell her we're 10:15 and we're okay. >> Under the community caretaking doctrine established in Katie versus Dumbrossski 413US433 1973, officers may engage citizens to render assistance without any suspicion of criminal activity. In this encounter, officers had no basis to detain Clayton. They were helping a visibly intoxicated passenger who had been walking the wrong direction through a TSA checkpoint. Where this caretaking contact holds legally is that no Fourth Amendment seizure occurred during the first 9 minutes. Clayton was free to leave at any point until he was not. Florida statute section 856.011. Disorderly intoxication prohibits intoxication in a public place that endangers others or causes a public disturbance, a secondderee misdemeanor, 60 days, and a $500 fine. Subsection 3 of that statute provides a critical alternative. Officers may arrange transport home in lie of arrest. Officers invoked that alternative. Clayton refused it. Florida statute section 784.07 07 battery on a law enforcement officer. Reclassify simple battery from a firstdegree misdemeanor to a thirdderee felony. Four elements are required, intentional contact against the officer's will, knowledge that the victim was law enforcement, and that the officer was performing lawful duties. Body camera footage establishes all four elements beyond reasonable dispute. Officers were uniformed and clearly identified throughout the encounter. Their duties were lawful under the caretaking doctrine. Clayton's punch to the face was intentional, and he confirmed it himself on camera. Florida statute section 843.02. Resisting an officer without violence. A first-degree misdemeanor carrying up to one year. Clayton's repeated refusal to comply with lawful directives satisfies this charge independently. Use of force is evaluated under Graham versus Connor. 490US 386 1989. The Supreme Court established three factors for determining objective reasonleness. First, severity of the crime battery on an officer is a thirdderee felony. Second, whether the suspect poses an immediate threat. A subject who has struck an officer in the face constitutes an obvious and immediate threat. Third, whether the suspect is actively resisting. Clayton resisted handcuffing and verbally threatened continued defiance. All three Graham factors favor the officers. Prone control without strikes or weapons was applied. The force falls within the bounds of objective reasonleness. Please get off me. >> Okay. >> Are you going to relax? >> Yes. Get off. >> Yeah. I need you over here. >> Get off me. >> Well, you punched me in the face. >> We're 10:15. >> I have no idea where the other half of my radio is. That's why I'm on the phone. >> Tell dispatch. Tell dispatch we're okay. We're 10:15. But I need you over here. >> Thanks. >> Doing this. >> I didn't do this, ma'am. >> No, I didn't. I didn't do >> Oh, yeah. He got me good, >> bro. I didn't do this. >> Corbal's coming. >> Get off me. >> Relax. >> You're killing me. One of the dude. >> Just relax. >> Why? >> Relax. >> What are you going to tell me forever, bro? Leading you the way. You're going to live. >> But can you switch? >> You're going to live. Can you voice? Which way? >> I don't know. Please, man. >> No, you got it. You got to go. >> You ready to stand up? >> No. >> You sure? >> Well, let's stand up. >> Let's stand up. Do not enter. >> The battery from my radio blew off. That's why I had to get on the phone. That's my blood, not his. stand up. >> Gary, I'm on his legs. >> Get up. >> Are we Gary? I'm on his legs. >> You can let you get off his legs. >> You sure? >> Yeah. >> I'm so dizzy. >> That's my blood. >> Me dizzy. >> Get up. >> I lost. This is why I had a call on the phone. >> Stand up. 26. >> Don't strip nothing on me. >> I'LL [ __ ] YOU UP. WALK. >> GARY, I got this one. I need to walk >> this way. Gary, walk. >> Get him. Get him. Get him. I'm not going to train you. Get the Get up. >> Gary, I'll hold him up. >> You understand me? >> Gary. Gary, I'll hold him up. >> Walk. Walk. >> Sorry. Did you grab his shoes? I got this. >> No more games, buddy. same thing more. >> We're coming down the elevator now. We're going to need a car. >> Cuz I've been doing >> Come on out, guys. Hurry up. >> God, >> please. >> Come on. We said come. You know >> why everybody? >> It's not a game, bro. >> It's not a game. You lost. Okay. >> 8 years. >> We're done. Me. >> Why didn't everybody invite me? That doesn't make sense. Why? I would have been the first one to join y'all. I hate this goddamn place. >> God, y'all are awesome and like my family. >> Why the would I do this? >> I don't know why you do this. >> And you really And you really think I would? >> Well, you did. >> Oh, yeah. I really don't. >> Yeah, right. >> Sorry. Let's make sure we got to search him. >> How about I just walk away and nobody >> How about I hit you again? >> What do you think? >> Yeah. You want me to? >> No, I don't. >> Cuz you're heading that way. >> You're heading that way. You're heading that way. >> You're heading that way. You're my >> I got him. I got Take take his stuff. >> You're not my friend. >> You don't listen. We are here to help you. You want me to turn on other cops? >> Gary, this side's empty. >> I wouldn't turn on people. >> I I these these two pockets are empty. >> I wouldn't turn on a coffee shop. >> Exactly. You're >> I got his wallet on this side of me. >> Just take his stuff. We got him. >> Cuz I wouldn't start. >> Just take your stuff. Ready? >> I would never turn him off. >> He's not double locked though. >> I would never unlock him. We got We got him if you just >> And I just did that if I ever deserve an eternal clock and I never would. >> You punch one. >> I RESPECT THE GODDAMN COAT. >> YOU PUNCH ONE. >> YEAH, I might punch one but I respect the >> Yeah. Wait, why don't you back up? >> I got to go ahead. >> But I would never turn on a cop. >> Don't kick me again. >> Punch my partner right in the face. >> What's done is done. Yeah, >> just double >> yours or these. >> Three Florida statutes and one landmark. >> At the time of this analysis, the final court disposition of the charges filed remains unknown. Based on the body camera record, the evidentiary position against Clayton is strong on all three counts. Officers Mike Ruiz and Gary receive a grade of B+. Their verbal deescalation sustained across 9 minutes was exceptional and exceeded standard requirements. Force applied after the felony assault was proportional prone restraint without weapons. Handcuffs were double locked, protecting the subject from post-restraint wrist injury. The B+ reflects two concerns. Backup should have been requested earlier given Clayton's escalating trajectory before the assault. And one officer's verbal response during the arrest, while contextually understandable, creates a documented statement susceptible to misinterpretation in a use of force review. The subject, Clayton, receives a grade of D. One impulsive act converted a manageable misdemeanor situation into a felony carrying up to 5 years in state prison. Officers had offered him a lawful exit, wait for his bag, get an Uber, go home. He refused, escalated, then assaulted. His post arrest claims of brutality were directly refuted by the same body camera he was unaware of. Under Florida law, voluntary intoxication is not a recognized defense to battery charges. No constitutional rights were invoked. Effectively, no silence, no attorney request. Tampa International Airport Police Department receives a grade of A minus. The body camera investment created a transparent record that objectively documented both officer conduct and the subject's assault. A formalized protocol distinguishing voluntary caretaking contact from formal detention would strengthen departmental procedures. Three lessons emerge from this analysis. For the public, cooperation with a lawful police contact is always the safest legal strategy. Under Florida statute section 856.011, officers had explicit statutory authority to arrange transport home. That outcome required only Clayton's consent. Grievances are resolved in courtrooms, not on airport terminal floors. For law enforcement, recognize pre-assault indicators and request backup proactively. Under the Graham versus Connor standard, the reasonleness of a force response is judged from the perspective of the officer on the scene. But situational awareness before force becomes necessary is the tactical standard that prevents the encounter from reaching that point. For both sides, body cameras are the most objective witness available in any encounter. In this case, they refuted false brutality claims, documented a spontaneous felony admission, and established every element of the charges filed. They protect everyone, and they record everything. Let us know if there is an interaction or legal topic you would like us to discuss in the comments below. We read all of them. 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