For the second time in as many
days, a South Florida cop once hailed as a hero for saving the life of a child
has been arrested for allegedly assaulting his wife.
Sweetwater Police Officer
Amauris Bastidas was arrested on the Fourth of July on a felony charge of
aggravated battery after he and his wife got into an argument. According to the
police report, at some point in the argument Officer Bastidas allegedly bit his
wife on her upper lip. Police said Bastidas was in uniform and armed on the day
of the alleged battery.
Bastidas gained nationwide
attention earlier this year when a baby stopped breathing while stuck in
traffic on the Dolphin Exrpressway in Miami. The child’s aunt began performing
CPR on the child and Officer Bastidas, along with one other person, joined in
and helped save the child’s life.
Officer Bastidas performed
chest compressions on the child while another person breathed into the child’s
mouth to help keep the child alive. The life-saving efforts were caught on
camera by a Miami Herald photographer who was driving in traffic.
News of Officer Bastidas’
arrest comes one day after news broke that Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Billy
Herrera, Jr. was also arrested for allegedly battering his wife. According to a
police report obtained exclusively by NBC 6, Herrera got into a heated argument
with his girlfriend in their new apartment and it turned violent when “the
defendant grabbed and slammed her against a wall.”
The report goes on to say that,
"the victim displayed bruising about her neck and arms and also had a
sprained ankle." Herrera was fired by the FHP over the incident.
It's unknown if Officer
Bastidas has an attorney. Sweetwater Police said Bastidas has been suspended.
