“Miami Beach Police Chief Raymond Martinez defended his department’s actions amid growing outrage over the death of an immigrant artist who was Tasered by one of his officers. ‘They had an encounter,’ Martinez said to WSVN-TV on Friday regarding the death of Israel Hernández-Llach Tuesday morning. ‘They were gonna place someone under arrest for a crime. Even though it was only graffiti, it’s still a crime. The subject ran from them. Now he’s eluding police. It’s resisting arrest, if you will.’ Miami New Times reported on Friday that Mercado’s record includes charges of battery and excessive force levied against him.”
