A now-former Miami Beach police officer blatantly ignored a deadly hit-and-run in front of his department’s headquarters earlier this year, according to newly released surveillance footage of the incident and local cops.
Esmat Ahmed Ibrahim Khedr, 63, was seen riding her electric bicycle toward an intersection steps away from the Miami Beach Police Headquarters before she was struck by a blue Ford Bronco, video obtained by Local 10 showed.
The driver takes off as bystanders rush to Khedr’s aid moments later.
Miami Beach police officer Edward Cavalie was near the scene and was informed by witnesses of the hit-and-run, but refused to take action.
Cavalie “directed the civilians who reported the collision to enter the police station and file the report themselves” before he drove away from the scene, Miami Beach police Chief Wayne Jones said in a statement to Local 10.
A witness then went inside the headquarters, informed other officers of the incident outside, and rushed over to find Khedr unconscious and not breathing.
The 63-year-old victim was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Cavalie was fired after an internal probe — launched on May 1 — found his “negligent” lack of action to help Khedr went against the department’s standards, Jones said.
“This response was negligent and a clear violation of our departmental policy,” the Miami Beach police chief said.
Cavalie was sworn in as an officer in July 2023 and was still in his probationary period with Miami Beach police when the hit-and-run occurred and he was fired.
Jones slammed the former officer, saying his actions “are not indicative of the dedication and professionalism of the hardworking men and women of the Miami Beach Police Department.”
“It is critical to emphasize that every member of this department is held to the highest standards, and any behavior similar to that exhibited by Mr. Cavalie will not be tolerated,” Jones told the outlet. “Our prayers remain with the victim of this tragic incident.”
Police later identified Dania Beach resident Demarcus Cortez Harrington, 43, as the driver of the blue Ford Bronco.
A witness to the deadly hit-and-run claims to have seen the driver of the Blue Bronco look back at the victim and then “shrug his shoulders” before continuing to flee, according to an arrest warrant obtained by the outlet.
The suspect was being followed by an acquaintance driving a gray Ford Bronco when he allegedly ran down Khedr.
The unnamed acquaintance Harrington knew from a local strip club and told law enforcement they were returning the Ford Broncos to Miami International Airport after they rented them off his company’s rental car app, Turo, according to Local 10.
Harrington’s acquaintance claims he heard a “smack” when Khedr was hit and saw startled onlookers in shock that the Bronco kept driving away.
According to Local 10, his acquaintance told police that when they stopped a short while later, he asked him if he had “run anyone over” and pleaded with Harrington to return to the scene.
The two allegedly almost came to blows, with Harrington telling his acquaintance he’s “not going back to jail” before ditching the Bronco in a nearby alleyway, the outlet reported.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office detained Harrington on July 16. He has since been taken back to Miami-Dade County on the arrest warrant put out for him in connection to the hit-and-run, according to police.
Harrington has been charged with leaving the scene of a crash causing death and is currently being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami.
He’s scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 2, according to the outlet.
According to records from the Iowa corrections department obtained by the outlet, Harrington has a lengthy criminal history in the Hawkeye State.
