Pahokee police chief resigns over police beating of Black Man

Pahokee Police Chief Rafael Duran resigned on Wednesday amid allegations that his officers beat and hospitalized a man who has been in an ongoing feud with police. Robert Love, 48, was a frequent nuisance to police. At crime scenes, Love would sometimes show up and taunt officers, tell witnesses not to talk to them and videotape them at work. It's unclear what sparked his alleged beating on Friday. The city manager and vice mayor stumbled upon three officers beating Lowe on Friday. The two were driving through town after having dinner, Mayor J.P. Sasser said. When the city officials got out of the car and identified themselves, the officers told them to leave and threatened to arrest them for interfering with a police investigation, Sasser said. The two officials immediately went to Sasser's home, and the three of them returned to the scene. But the Pahokee police officers, accompanied by two Palm Beach County sheriff's deputies, again threatened the city officials with arrest if they did not leave. The beating was "so vicious'' that Love was hospitalized, Sasser said. Duran, a former patrol deputy, took over as chief in the summer of 2003. His family had moved from Cuba to the small town in 1960. Duran lost a bid for Palm Beach County Sheriff in 2000. He could not be reached for comment on Thursday. Detective Calipto Gonzalez is temporarily filling in as chief. Sasser said the Sheriff's Office internal affairs division is investigating because he doesn't have confidence in his department to investigate the incident. He said he is also going to ask the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to review the Police Department. "I can't believe this happened,'' Sasser said. ``The last time I checked, the American flag was flying atop City Hall.'' [more]