Today prosecutors filled in some blanks: The Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office charged Santos with cocaine possession after security cameras caught the off-duty cop snorting coke inside the popular club known for its gyrating, topless women.
"Witnesses indicated that Santos was allegedly observed with a plastic baggie containing a white, powdery substance and was observed allegedly inhaling some of the white powder," State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announced in a news release. "The nightclub's surveillance video appears to support this observation."
Because E11even operates 24 hours a day in the city's heavily trafficked downtown club district, Miami Police officers work in the area pretty much round-the-clock. Rundle's office says the nightclub security director kicked Santos out of the club and turned him over to officers from his own department.
The city announced in a tweet that Police Chief Rodolfo Llanes is expected to host a news conference about the arrest at 2 p.m. today.
"It's an unfortunate situation when one of our officers betrays the oath they took," the department wrote on Twitter.
Santos sued the city December 22 in county court, alleging he was pulled out of the nightclub at 3:30 a.m. November 18 against his will, held in the back of a cop car for hours, and "forcibly" subjected to a blood test. He says he was first driven to Jackson Memorial Hospital, which refused to test him, he claims. Santos says he was then taken to Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, where doctors drew blood.It’s an unfortunate situation when one of our officers betrays the oath they took. Chief Llanes will hold a press conference at 2 P.M. To announce the arrest of one of our officers. pic.twitter.com/fjKE2UNFJl
— Miami PD (@MiamiPD) January 9, 2018
He says he was finally transported back to police headquarters, where he was held against his will and relieved of duty that morning. Though prosecutors say he was caught snorting cocaine on camera, Santos is suing to reverse the decision, claiming the police department never told him why he was pulled from the force.Every police officer who has taken an oath to enforce the law also has a duty to respect & follow the law. There are no exceptions. Today @MiamiPD & I announce the arrest of @MiamiPD Officer Adrian Santos, charged w/Possession of Cocaine while he was off-duty at local nightclub. pic.twitter.com/YesMEQ6Pn2
— Kathy Rundle (@KathyFndzRundle) January 9, 2018
Hilariously, Santos even admits in his suit that he knows "the State of Florida is investigating this matter for potential criminal violations." But he still wants his job back.
