The North Miami Police commander who was suspended for allegedly giving inconsistent statements after an officer shot an unarmed behavioral therapist last month won’t face charges, officials said.
Commander Emile Hollant was suspended without pay after he allegedly gave conflicting statements to investigators or command staff officers following the July 18 shooting of Charles Kinsey by Officer Jonathan Aledda.
But according to a memo from the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office Public Corruption Unit released Thursday, the accusation was a result of a “simple miscommunication.”
According to the memo, Hollant said he was present before the shooting took place but had returned to his police car over a block away to retrieve some binoculars when he heard the gunshots fired by Aledda.
Hollant had told investigators he was not a witness to the shooting but they concluded he was, the memo said.
“Commander Hollant did not lie and there was no intent to mislead or obstruct investigators or command staff officers regarding his involvement in the police shooting,” the memo said. “He was present at the immediate scene before the shooting and after, and his involvement is captured to some degree in police radio transmissions.”