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Miami, FL - A Miami YouTuber paralyzed from the neck down denies accusations that he assaulted a police officer during a domestic dispute at a South Florida residence last week.
YouTube personality Bryant Amastha, 32 (known online as El Valien-T), was arrested on Wednesday following a reported domestic dispute.
Amastha, who uses a motorized wheelchair, faces two counts of battery on a law enforcement officer.
According to police, officers responded to a dispute between Amastha and his mother at their home in southwest Miami-Dade’s Quail Heights area.
Amastha became agitated during his mother's arrest and allegedly struck an officer with his wheelchair and spit on them.
Amastha denies the accusations and claims the officer made contact with his chair, and that the spit was a result of his acid reflux.
The YouTuber tells Local 10 News "So I suffer from acid reflux so I normally spit. And I spat in a totally different direction.”
Amastha alleges officers used excessive force during his arrest.
The judge acknowledged the case's unusual nature and released Amastha on his own recognizance while ordering him to avoid contact with the involved officer.
Miami-Dade police have not received prior complaints regarding the incident and have not been informed of any damage to the wheelchair or allegations of rough handling during the arrest.
Body camera footage from last week's arrest exists, but has not been released.