A Ferris Wheel operator from the Opa Locka Hialeah Flea Market in Hialeah, Florida has been arrested after video showed him assaulting a Black woman went viral.
Ferris Wheel Fight Arrest Details
Police Arrested Ferris Wheel Operator. “Police arrest a Ferris wheel operator after an altercation with a Black woman at a Miami area flea market, Miami’s local ABC affiliate reports. A video surfaced this weekend of a Black woman and children exiting a Ferris wheel at the Opa Locka Hialeah Flea Market. The woman and employee were yelling at each other before the man started to attack the woman.” [Yahoo]
Viral Video Launched Police Investigation. “An investigation after a video circulated on social media of a fight between a Ferris wheel operator and a woman at the Opa Locka Hialeah Flea Market has led to enough evidence to arrest the carnival employee, according to Opa-locka police.” [Local 10]
Video Shows Operator Shoving Woman. “Videos from the scene show a woman with two kids and a grey-shirted ride operator at the centre of the melee. The two exchange angry words and the operator can be seen abruptly shoving the woman, causing her to stumble back and bump one of her kids to the ground.” [Global News]
Operator Also Fought Fellow Employee. “The Ferris wheel operator even started to fight with another employee who tried to intervene. The brawl continued and the angry operator even restarted the Ferris wheel with riders on board.” [CBS Local]
Bystanders Punched Ride Operator. “This did not sit well with bystanders, who immediately respond by jumping in and landing punches on the ride operator. As if that wasn’t chaotic enough, the Ferris wheel dangerously started back up, with people on the ride platform.” [Snopes]
Police Said Video Gave Probable Cause For Arrest. ““Our detectives have interviewed and secured a written statement from the victim and probable cause exists to arrest the carnival employee depicted in the video,” police said in a statement, per CBS Miami. “The Opa-Locka Police Department does not tolerate any criminal acts of violence and will prosecute those individuals to the fullest extent of the law.”” [Revolt]
Opa Locka Ferris Wheel Fight Video
Video of the ferris wheel fight:
😭 at opa locka flea 😭 fighting pic.twitter.com/nezvG1xZDt
— Miami♛ (@jusbeinqgabby) April 18, 2021
Facebook live video stream of ferris wheel fight:
One of the first political bloggers in the world, Oliver Willis has operated OliverWillis.com since 2000. Contributor at Media Matters for America and The American Independent. Follow on Twitter at @owillis. Full bio.