LONGWOOD, FL - A police officer with the Longwood Police Department (LPD) was investigated for violating the agency's use-of-force policy and resigned midway through.
The investigation into Officer Virgel Quintal found 10 policy violations related to use-of-force, according to the police department, Click Orlando reported.
Body camera footage and documents allegedly show that Quintal, who resigned from the department earlier in July, violated the department's policy on more than one occasion.
Body camera footage shows what transpired back in May when Quintal confronted a 17-year-old during a family dispute.
In the video, Officer Quintal said, "What are you gonna do, John? What are you gonna do?" The teen responded, "If I didn't have these handcuffs on, I promise you."
Quintal then said, "Take them off. Take them off. Are you gonna fight me, John?" ... "I'm sick of coming up here for your s--. If I come out here again, you're gonna go to jail."
On May 27th, around 9:00 p.m., Longwood police responded to a family disturbance on West Palmetto Drive, where the 17-year-old was reportedly arguing with his dad over cell phone restrictions.
Two officers then separated the son in the garage and de-escalated the situation.
Officers then concluded that the teen "met criteria for involuntary examination" under the Baker Act, according to the release.
The teen had said he wanted to self-harm and asked to be taken in. Quintal said, "Don't eyeball me, boy. Don't eyeball me."
Afteward, Quintal allegedly confronted the teen. "Initially, it seemed to be an attempt to set boundaries in support of John's parents, but quickly became unprofessional and agitated the situation," the release said.
Memos from Longwood police reportedly show two officers who responded that day reported Quintal "acted unreasonably, used excessive force, and escalated the situation, which was already under control."
The internal investigation is complete. However, the results have been sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission for additional evaluation.
The police report states that Quintal had responded to the same address several times before for similar incidents.
Personnel records for Quintal show he violated department policy once before he resigned in the middle of this internal investigation.
The teen's mother said she is in agreement with the police department's filings. She previously told News 6 that the family has had interactions before with LPD that have been positive.
She called it an isolated incident and said it does not reflect Longwood as a whole.
A personnel file obtained by News 6 shows Quintal was disciplined for his actions after a traffic stop in July 2024.
Correspondence from the chief of police states after a driver failed to stop at a stop sign, Quintal "inappropriately engaged in a vehicle pursuit and continued to do so after being instructed to stop."
Following a formal investigation, the chief agreed that Quintal had sustained violations of enforcement policy and while he may have believed his response to the driver taking off was with "good intention," a pursuit was "not appropriate and most certainly violated the pursuit criteria."
Quintal was suspended without pay for two workdays and was ordered to complete training on the department's pursuit policy and take a risk reduction course.
He was also warned that any similar future violations would lead to "progressive discipline."
The investigation into Officer Virgel Quintal found 10 policy violations related to use-of-force, according to the police department, Click Orlando reported.
Body camera footage and documents allegedly show that Quintal, who resigned from the department earlier in July, violated the department's policy on more than one occasion.
Body camera footage shows what transpired back in May when Quintal confronted a 17-year-old during a family dispute.
In the video, Officer Quintal said, "What are you gonna do, John? What are you gonna do?" The teen responded, "If I didn't have these handcuffs on, I promise you."
Quintal then said, "Take them off. Take them off. Are you gonna fight me, John?" ... "I'm sick of coming up here for your s--. If I come out here again, you're gonna go to jail."
On May 27th, around 9:00 p.m., Longwood police responded to a family disturbance on West Palmetto Drive, where the 17-year-old was reportedly arguing with his dad over cell phone restrictions.
Two officers then separated the son in the garage and de-escalated the situation.
Officers then concluded that the teen "met criteria for involuntary examination" under the Baker Act, according to the release.
The teen had said he wanted to self-harm and asked to be taken in. Quintal said, "Don't eyeball me, boy. Don't eyeball me."
Afteward, Quintal allegedly confronted the teen. "Initially, it seemed to be an attempt to set boundaries in support of John's parents, but quickly became unprofessional and agitated the situation," the release said.
Memos from Longwood police reportedly show two officers who responded that day reported Quintal "acted unreasonably, used excessive force, and escalated the situation, which was already under control."
The internal investigation is complete. However, the results have been sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission for additional evaluation.
The police report states that Quintal had responded to the same address several times before for similar incidents.
Personnel records for Quintal show he violated department policy once before he resigned in the middle of this internal investigation.
The teen's mother said she is in agreement with the police department's filings. She previously told News 6 that the family has had interactions before with LPD that have been positive.
She called it an isolated incident and said it does not reflect Longwood as a whole.
A personnel file obtained by News 6 shows Quintal was disciplined for his actions after a traffic stop in July 2024.
Correspondence from the chief of police states after a driver failed to stop at a stop sign, Quintal "inappropriately engaged in a vehicle pursuit and continued to do so after being instructed to stop."
Following a formal investigation, the chief agreed that Quintal had sustained violations of enforcement policy and while he may have believed his response to the driver taking off was with "good intention," a pursuit was "not appropriate and most certainly violated the pursuit criteria."
Quintal was suspended without pay for two workdays and was ordered to complete training on the department's pursuit policy and take a risk reduction course.
He was also warned that any similar future violations would lead to "progressive discipline."
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