Nurse Involved In Fan Smackdown Must Apologize To Officer

MIAMI, FL — The nurse who was knocked backward by a Miami-Dade police officer after she slapped at his head while being carried out of Hard Rock Stadium, must write an apology to the officer, according to a Miami judge. Thirty-year-0ld Bridget Freitas entered a Misdemeanor Pre-Trial Intervention Program on Monday. The 5 foot 5 inch woman twice attempted to slap Officer Douglas Ross though police said her wild swing missed on the first try.

"You have to complete the anger management course as well as 50 community service hours, $100 cost of prosecution and a letter of apology to a Detective Ross," Judge Dava Tunis told Freitas in a Miami courtroom on Monday.

Video of the incident was widely viewed on social media and in news reports. Miami-Dade police confirmed last week that Ross will not face "administrative action" for delivering what appeared to be a powerful blow to Freitas during the University of Miami game in November.

"Upon acceptance into the program, an offender must successfully complete all of the requirements outlined ... within six months," Ed Griffith of the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office told Patch on Monday.

Freitas will return to court on Dec. 21 to learn whether she has been accepted into the program.

"The charges are held in abeyance, not dropped, until the program has been completed," according to Griffith. "If the offender has successfully completed everything, then the charges would be dropped. If the offender fails to successfully complete the program, then the charges would be reinstated and the case would then proceed through the courts."

The incident occurred during the Hurricanes' victory over Virginia Tech while Freitas was being carried out of Section 129 of Hard Rock Stadium for disorderly conduct.

Freitas of the 15600 block of NW 14th Court in Pembroke Pines, had been drinking, according to Miami-Dade police. Officials said she was arguing with other fans and "using profanity in a loud boisterous manner" before police acted to remove her. Court documents said Freitas allegedly sat on the stadium steps and refused to budge.

Detective Lee Cowart of the Miami-Dade Police Department told Patch last week that the supervisor's report cleared the officer of violating departmental procedures but did not amount to an endorsement of his handling of the situation.

"This says that he didn't violate policy," Cowart explained at the time.

Miami-Dade police said they made several attempts to calm Freitas, whom they described as smelling of a "strong alcohol beverage" with "slurred speech" and "bloodshot eyes." Police tried to get her to walk up the stairs to the concourse on her own before opting to carry her.

When they did lift her, police said she swung at Ross while trying to free herself but missed on the first try.

"As they carried her out of the seating area, Ms. Freitas continued to flail her body and attempted to strike Officer Ross by swinging her open right hand at Officer Ross' head. However, she missed," the supervisor's report stated. "Ms. Freitas subsequently swung a second time with an open backhand, striking Officer Ross in his left eye."

The supervisor's report also clarified that Ross did not strike the woman with his fist as it might have appeared to some people who watched the video.

"Officer Ross reacted by striking Ms. Freitas in the face with an open right hand," the document continued. "Ms. Freitas was finally taken to the concourse where she was handcuffed."

The supervisor's report said that Freitas complained of shortness of breath and was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital where she was medically cleared. Ross was not injured.