Melbourne officer heard in video punching, yelling at handcuffed suspect

MELBOURNE, Fla. — Dashcam video released to Eyewitness News details what landed a Melbourne police officer in trouble with the law.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement began investigating the officer in April after he was accused of punching a handcuffed suspect.

The 19-minute, 43-second video doesn’t show much, but it was what was heard in the background of the video that put Officer Christopher Eisen under FDLE investigation and behind bars.

“You threaten my (expletive) family. I’ll (expletive) kill you,” the officer is heard saying.

The State Attorney’s Office said the officer is then heard punching the suspect.

The video and audio was listed as one of the reasons Eisen’s department turned him in for use of force shortly after the April 5 incident.

The camera records as Eisen transports the man to the hospital after picking him up for some kind of disturbance.

“You threaten my (expletive) family again. Do it again. Get in the (expletive) car,” said the officer.

Later, in the background, the suspect taunts Eisen.

“Your family’s dead,” the suspect said. “Come on (expletive) boy. Hit me some more, (expletive) boy.”

The suspect audibly spat at the officer more than once.

By the time it’s all over, the suspect outlines what allegedly can’t be seen, and what led to Eisen now facing a felony battery charge.

“My face is bloody. My face is bruised. He just pulled me out of the car and beat the (expletive) out of me while I was in cuffs,” said the suspect.

Channel 9 contacted Melbourne police about the video, but the department hasn’t responded with a comment.

Eisen remains on unpaid leave.

Cox Media Group