Miami Police Officer Arrested on Rape, Kidnapping Charges

[Raineyrocks]

Miami Police Officer Arrested On Rape, Kidnapping Charges
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Miami police say one of their own is facing serious charges after being accused of rape and kidnapping.

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Officer Michael Ragusa was relieved of duty Monday evening after police said he was arrested by the Miami Beach police that same morning for kidnapping and attempted sexual battery.


Officials said the alleged incident happened between 4:20 a.m. and 5:20 a.m. Monday on Collins Avenue and 73rd Street inside his marked squad car.

"It is difficult for us when any of our police officers gets in trouble for anything," Lt. Bill Schwartz said. "But for something like this, it sort of boggles the mind."

Ragusa's personnel file contains complaints of him being rude, physical and according to another local publication, he used a Taser on a fellow police officer.

Police said that he physically pulled a woman into his car through his front window and drove his squad car to a deserted area and sexually assaulted the woman.

Witnesses told NBC 6's Hank Tester that Ragusa lives in the apartment building where he allegedly grabbed the woman from.

"It is very bizarre," officer Bobby Hernandez, of the Miami Beach Police Department, said. "In fact, when we first got the information that this had occurred, we thought it was either a stolen police car or that the victim was not giving us the truthful statements."

The Miami Beach Police Department contacted the Miami Police Internal Affairs Department Monday afternoon and informed commanders of the allegations made against Ragusa.

"Nothing could be farther from the truth because in fact it was a police officer and it was a marked police car -- his police car -- and we have a very credible victim here," Hernandez said.

Police said that Ragusa's alleged victim screamed and cried throughout the whole ordeal and her clothes were ripped off.

He appeared in bond court Tuesday and was denied bond. He has another hearing Wednesday.

Ragusa has been a member of the Miami Police Department for the past three years and was assigned to the Coconut Grove area of Miami. He has been suspended with pay.

[powerchuter]

And the rage and sleepless nights continue as we wait for the call to arms...
That truthfully came years ago when the women and children of Waco...
Were burnt alive before our eyes...as we sat...and stared...and cried...
In disbelief at what was done in "our" names...oh the shame...

I wasn't there for Waco or Ruby Ridge...
But Plainfield will not go silently by...

It's past time Claire...