Philippe Archer, a Miami Beach, Florida police detective, has been accused of using excessive force against arrestees Andrew Mossberg, Megan Adamescu, and Guy Moulin, news sources report. Archer is now being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's public corruption task force. It is too early to say whether Archer will face criminal charges for his supposedly inappropriate actions. So far, no defense attorney appears to have spoken on Archer's behalf.
Reports say Archer is a 21-year veteran with the Miami Beach Police Department. During that time, Archer has had a record of good service, sources say. The Miami Beach Mayor said that the allegations tarnish the police department's appearance, but added that such cases are in the minority, reports say. "I want my residents to feel that the police are doing a good job," the mayor reportedly said. "The police need to understand that this has to stop."
Not everyone blamed the officers, instead pointing a finger at the city's new and stricter policies for the recent influx in officer-related violence. "Many officers, like Archer in this case, have a stellar record for over 21 years... this new policy that the city attorney's office is obviously employing to try to settle these cases without really looking at the merits of this case, is causing their reputation[s] to be damaged," a Miami Beach Fraternal order of Police president reportedly said after the case broke to the public.
Guy Moulin was the first person to accuse Detective Archer of wrongdoing. Earlier this year, Moulin was vacationing in South Florida with his children, sources indicate. Detective Archer and other officers, all dressed in plain clothes and possibly working undercover, approached Moulin's kids and seized their necks, reports state. The officers apparently thought the children were violating some law at the time, though further details are not available.
Moulin witnessed seemingly ordinary people grabbing his kids and stepped in, sources say. "He went to intervene and then he got the beating of all beatings," Moulin's attorney reportedly said. Moulin and his attorney later filed a suit against the city of Miami Beach and were awarded a $60,000 settlement. It is not clear whether Moulin is pursuing action against Archer himself.
On June 26, Detective Archer assaulted two more people without just cause, Andrew Mossberg purportedly claims. The incident occurred at the South Bay Club condominium complex on West Avenue in Miami Beach, sources indicate. Megan Adamescu was reportedly drunk and causing a scene, and the concierge of the complex had called police. Archer, who was not wearing a uniform, had responded to the call was apparently searching for Megan Adamescu's ID in her purse at the time.