Former Hialeah Cop Convicted of Kidnapping, Acquitted of Battery Charge

A jury has found former Hialeah police officer Rafael Otano guilty of armed kidnapping but not guilty of battery in the trial where he was accused of kidnapping and beating a homeless man while working for the department. The incident occurred in December of last year. Otano's attorney plans to appeal the verdict. The jury heard testimony from Hialeah Police Department officers who stated that Otano did not report detaining the victim and did not include it in his daily report. Otano's potential sentence for armed kidnapping is life in prison.