Charges were dropped Wednesday against a former Sweetwater police officer accused of biting his wife on the lip in a mall parking lot.
Until that June day, Amauris Bastidas was perhaps best known for his heroism on State Road 836, where he helped save a baby who wasn’t breathing.
On Wednesday, an aggravated battery charge was dropped against the 39-year old Bastidas. The charge stemmed from a June 6 fight with his wife in the parking lot of the Dolphin Mall. He was fired after the incident.
In March, Bastidas was named the Sweetwater Police Department’s “Officer of the Month” for his life-saving efforts.
He was also presented with two plaques, one from the American Red Cross and the other on behalf of the mayor and commission.
On Feb. 20, Pamela Rauseo had her 5-month-old nephew in the car with her when she noticed he wasn’t breathing. She stopped in the middle State Road 836 and started screaming.
That caught the attention of Miami Herald photojournalist Al Diaz who happened to be in the car behind her.
Diaz found Bastidas a few cars back.
The father of three boys, Bastidas said he had his own children on his mind when he hopped out of his car to help.
Bastidas, who was not on duty at the time, helped Rauseo and a Good Samaritan, Lucila Godoy, administer CPR until Miami-Dade Fire Rescue arrived.
Bastidas’ attorney, Jorge Viera, said now that the battery charge has been dismissed his client plans to ask the police department to re-hire him.
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