Miami officer accused of beating wife and robbing witness, police say
A Miami police officer was arrested Sunday after allegedly beating his wife and robbing a witness during a drunken altercation at his Sunrise home, according to police.
Christian Vladimir Sanchez, 29, faces charges of domestic battery and robbery following the incident, which occurred after an Easter event earlier in the day.
Sunrise police said Sanchez struck his wife about 30 times and forcibly took a cellphone from a witness who recorded part of the assault.
Sanchez, a nine-year veteran of the Miami Police Department, has been relieved of duty pending an internal investigation, the department said.
Easter celebration turns violent
Police were called to Sanchez's residence in Sunrise, where they found his wife outside with a bloody lip and blood on her teeth. She declined medical treatment, according to the arrest report.
The victim told officers she, Sanchez and their daughter had attended an Easter event, during which Sanchez consumed an entire bottle of rum and became heavily intoxicated.
After returning home, he took a long shower and repeatedly lost his balance, knocking down the shower rod. When she asked him to get out so she could bathe their daughter, he became agitated.
The report states Sanchez made unwanted sexual advances, which the victim rejected. He then demanded she leave the residence. When she agreed to go in the morning due to his condition, Sanchez allegedly grabbed her by the ponytail, pulling her backward, causing her to accidentally strike their daughter, who began crying.
Sanchez reportedly hurled insults at his wife in front of their child.
Witness captures part of assault on video
The situation escalated further in the master bedroom. While the victim was dressing their daughter, Sanchez allegedly tried to take her phone. When she refused, holding the device to her chest, Sanchez straddled her and struck her approximately 30 times with a closed fist, according to the report.
A second person, identified as V2, entered the room and began recording. The report said Sanchez dragged the victim into the living room by her hair and struck her an additional 10 times. The victim threw the shower rod at Sanchez in self-defense before fleeing to seek help from neighbors.
V2 later told police she heard the victim's pleas to call 911 and captured a 10-second video of Sanchez striking her. As she was on the phone with 911, Sanchez allegedly demanded she hang up, pointed at her and made her fear for her safety. She dropped the phone and Sanchez grabbed it before leaving in a green Jeep, police said.
Charges filed
According to the report, the video and accompanying photos corroborated the victim's account, showing Sanchez hitting her and pulling her hair. He was arrested and charged with domestic battery and robbery, tied to the forcible taking of the witness's cellphone, which was valued at under $750.
Sanchez invoked his Miranda rights and was transported to Broward's Main Jail without incident.
