Man arrested after attacking officer

AVENTURA, Fla. (WSVN) -- Police have released surveillance video that captured the moment a South Florida officer was brutally attacked.

Aventura Police officer Lieutenant Michael Bentolia was seen on surveillance video being thrown to the ground and punched by a man.

The man was identified as Jeremy Kaiser, who tried to take the officer's gun, police said. "This is clearly a very violent individual, and it's absolutely terrible that someone would think about doing that," said Aventura Police Sergeant Chris Goranitis.

Bentolia was working a detail in an Aventura Shopping Center, located on 212 Street and Biscayne Boulevard, on Thursday.

According to police, Bentolia was approached by Kaiser when the officer was then punched in the face. On surveillance, another person was seen helping the officer.

An off-duty Miami-Dade firefighter tried to pull Kaiser off the officer. "I ran across the parking lot and was able to tackle the guy and help subdue him and hold him down until the cops arrived," said Regainne Georges.

Bentolia was able to hit Kaiser with a Taser, but he pulled off the wires and kept fighting him. Police said they were forced to kick Kaiser in the head to get him to release the officer's gun.

Kaiser appeared before a judge Friday afternoon. His attorney asked to zoom into his client's injuries.

"I couldn't help it, I saw someone in trouble, and I just ran. We do this everyday when we come to work," said Georges.

Bentolia has a swollen knee and received cuts and bruises to his face.

Kaiser remains in jail, facing a list of charges.

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