Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony is slamming the State Attorney’s Office over the recent arrests of three of his corrections deputies, calling the aggravated battery charges against them “a miscarriage of justice” and announcing their full reinstatement.
Sgt. Zakiyyah Polk, Deputy Denia Walker, and Deputy Cleopatra Johnnie were charged in connection with a 2022 jail incident involving 38-year-old Samantha Caputo, who had been booked for DUI. According to arrest warrants, the deputies used excessive force during a scuffle over Caputo’s refusal to remove her bra while changing into jail clothes. Caputo was allegedly shoved, punched, kicked, pepper-sprayed, and Tased, suffering injuries that required medical attention.
Tony, however, said Caputo became combative and injured the deputies, including biting one and fracturing her finger. “I will not accept the nature of these charges against these women. The video is crystal clear that they had demonstrated only the level of force necessary to get this individual back in compliance,” Tony said at a press conference Friday. “Did our deputies strike her? You better believe they did.”
Calling the charges politically motivated, Tony accused State Attorney Harold Pryor’s office of ignoring misconduct cases BSO submitted for prosecution while targeting the “select three” deputies. “This is most certainly a miscarriage of justice and exhibits signs and symptoms of public corruption in itself, favors for friends,” he said.
Tony said BSO’s internal investigation has cleared the deputies, who are now reinstated and will have their legal fees covered by the agency.
“These women were handcuffed, arrested, and their reputations have been destroyed,” Tony said. “I will not allow these women to sit in shame and embarrassment and have to pay for high-price attorneys when they’ve been righteous.”
In response, Pryor said he was disappointed by the sheriff’s comments and asked that any corruption allegations be submitted in writing. Caputo’s DUI charge was later dismissed, and the battery charge against her was dropped. Her attorney has accused the sheriff of exaggerating facts and is considering a lawsuit against BSO.
