A man shot eight times by a Miami-Dade detective is now paralyzed and unable to comply with police orders. The incident occurred after a traffic stop turned into a pursuit, with the detective firing shots at Virgil French, who allegedly tried to run him over.
French, 38, attempted to escape a traffic stop and crashed his car into a light pole shortly after. As the detective approached French’s vehicle, French drove at the detective, pinning him against the car. The detective then shot French, injuring him. French’s account, as detailed in a court filing, tells a story of being followed by an unidentified vehicle before being confronted by an armed man while driving in Miami’s Liberty City neighborhood.
French’s attorneys claim the detective fired at French while his hands were raised, leaving him paralyzed. The attorneys also allege that French was mistreated by the police, with officers removing his clothes and leaving him naked on the sidewalk after the incident.
The police, however, have not commented on the case, citing an ongoing internal affairs investigation. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is now leading the investigation.
This incident sheds light on the complicated relationship between law enforcement and the community, and provides many unanswered questions about what truly transpired that evening. French has had previous run-ins with the law, but his attorneys’ version of events introduces conflicting narratives that add to the mystery.
