On April 2, 2023, Officer Michael Leonardo responded to a disturbance at a youth shelter involving a 13-year-old resident. After handcuffing the teen, Leonardo believed the teen was attempting to break away and took him to the ground, causing the teen’s face to hit the pavement, resulting in a broken nose and chipped teeth. An internal investigation determined that Leonardo used excessive force, leading to his termination from the department. ([fox13news.com](https://www.fox13news.com/news/clearwater-police-officer-fired-for-excessive-force?utm_source=openai))
.
