Miami Beach Police officer Edward Cavalie fired after ignoring cyclist injured in hit and run
Miami Beach Police officer Edward Cavalie was fired after the department learned he ignored pleas of help from onlookers attending to an injured cyclist who was hit by a hit and run driver outside of the police station on April 28.
The cyclist, 63-year-old Esmat Ahmed Ibrahim Khedr, was riding an eBike when she was struck by a blue Ford Bronco, which continued driving. Khedr wasntaken to Jackson Memorial Hospital where she died from her injuries.
Surveillance video posted by Miami-area media shows the cruiser Edward Cavalie was driving waiting at an intersection less than a block away from the crash, when two people run up to the window. The people then run back and the cruiser turns in the opposite direction of Khedr’s unconscious body.
“Instead of adhering to our protocols by taking immediate action, Mr. Cavalie directed the civilians who reported the collision to enter the police station and file the report themselves,” the police department said in a statement issued Sept. 4. “This response was negligent and a clear violation of our departmental policy. After a comprehensive investigation, Mr. Cavalie’s employment was terminated immediately.”
Cavlie was sworn in July 11, 2023 and was still on probation when the incident occurred.
The driver of the vehicle that hit Khedr, 43-year-old Demarcus Cortez Harrington, of Miramar, was arrested after a witness returned to the scene and told police that he was with Harrington at the time of the crash.
According to data from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there have been 12 fatal bicycle crashes in Miami-Dade county so far this year.