BSO deputy threatens to feed man to alligators

WESTON, Fla. (WSVN) -- After responding to a call, a Broward Sheriff's Office deputy was caught on camera threatening to kill and feed a subject to alligators.

Deputy Alan Dubinski was suspended for several months after he responded to a call in Weston last July and made some crude threats. Deputy Dubinski was talking to Jesse Merchant who had been stopped for erratic behavior. In the dash cam video, Deputy Dubinski seems to lose his cool when he threatens to feed Merchant to alligators.

"Remember what I told you about the alligators? I'm going to feed your ass to them. I'm not going to arrest you, I'm going to feed you to the (EXPLETIVE) alligators. I'm taking you out on the alley, and I'm dumping your ass, so you're going to die," said Dubinski. He adds, "You're (EXPLETIVE) going home or I'm going to beat the (EXPLETIVE) piss out of you." He finishes off saying, "Like I said, I see you again tonight, I'm going to beat the (EXPLETIVE) piss out of you. You understand?"

Merchant's fiancée, Jodi O'Leary said the incident left Merchant scared. "He didn't know what was going to happen. He didn't know if that cop was going to come after him," said O'Leary.

The Broward Sheriff's Office launched an investigation, and after looking at the tapes, Deputy Dubinski was suspended with pay for several months.

In Dubinski's 22-year career, he has been disciplined eight times and investigated 20, including an officer-involved shooting in Dania Beach back in 2006. But it was the threats to Jesse Merchant that got him suspended.

When Dubinski was asked if his behavior was professional he told internal affairs: "In the eyes of the public, it's probably not, but... every situation is different, sometimes you have to be harsh with some people to get your point across to them that they understand, and this is the way that Jesse understands, and the problem was solved."

Deputy Dubinski is not speaking, but his attorney, Terri Guttman-Valdes said, "My client, based on years of experience and familiarity with Jesse, chose to speak sternly with him in order to have him comply with their instructions and to avoid taking further police action and on this case it resolved the situation."

Deputy Dubinski is back on the force after serving his suspension.

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