Orlando police chief defends officers' actions in capture of murder suspect Markeith Loyd

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Police Department released helicopter video Thursday of the capture of Markeith Loyd, who is accused of shooting and killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend before gunning down Lt. Debra Clayton in a Walmart parking lot.

Loyd was arrested Tuesday night at an abandoned home in the Carver Shores area following a nine-day manhunt.

The video was released the same day that Loyd appeared in court on murder charges in connection with the death of Sade Dixon, who police said Loyd shot and killed outside her home on Dec. 13.

Loyd became verbally aggressive with the judge in court Thursday as she read the charges against him and explained his options.

When Loyd was taken to Orlando Police Headquarters after his arrest, his face was bloody and bruised and he yelled, “They beat me up” at Channel 9’s cameras.

Police said Loyd came out of the house Tuesday night armed and wearing tactical gear, but dropped his weapons.

Photos: Markeith Loyd makes his first court appearance

The helicopter video shows him crawling on the ground, through the front yard, over the sidewalk and onto the street.%

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Mina spoke at a press conference Thursday to give more details about not only the arrest of Loyd, but of Clayton’s death.

Mina also said Thursday that Loyd did not comply with orders to put his hands behind his back when he was arrested, so force was used. He said officers had a quick decision to make against a cold-blooded killer.

“This is a person that we’re not taking any chances with. He doesn’t get to not comply with the first order,” said Mina.

He added that Loyd could have had something under the tactical gear, and that officers later found ammunition on him.

Loyd was surrounded by heavily armed officers from multiple law enforcement agencies when he stepped out of the home Tuesday night.

The helicopter video shows officers swarming him once he crawled in their direction. They appeared to kick him in the face, and drag him toward a vehicle.

It appears he was kicked at least twice.

During the kicking, the video from the chopper pans away for a couple seconds toward the house.

A group of other officers with guns drawn then swarmed the home.

Loyd has a fractured eye socket and other injuries to his face.

WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said even if Loyd filed a civil suit, it will not impact his criminal trial.

Sheaffer said Loyd has an uphill battle when it comes to getting the jury to feel sympathetic toward him given his violent history, and the fact that he allegedly killed two people and an unborn child.

“OPD is saying it occurred one way. He’s saying it occurred another. Who do you think the jury is going to believe between the two?” Sheaffer said.

“He ran over, stood over her, (as she was) defenseless and shot her again,” Mina said.

Clayton was trying to approach Loyd, who was already being sought for Dixon’s death.

The Walmart video will not be released.

Cox Media Group