This is the moment a prisoner in Florida brutally attacks a police officer and knocks him out.

The incident took place at the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) headquarters in Doral, which is a city in Miami-Dade County, in the south-eastern US state of Florida, on Tuesday 21st December at around 7.44pm.

The police officer, who has not been named, was reportedly trying to secure the prisoner, named as Nestor Rodriguez, 32. However, they got into an argument, and the prisoner can be seen breaking the officer’s hold on him before beginning to punch him numerous times in the face.

The MDPD said that the police officer lost consciousness as a result of the prisoner repeatedly hitting him. The violence was eventually ended by a civilian employee, who has not been named, but who is said to have stopped the prisoner from attacking the police officer, with other officers subsequently rushing to help.

The prisoner was then secured and taken into custody.

The CCTV footage was shared by the MDPD, which released a statement in which the department’s director, Alfredo ‘Freddy’ Ramirez, said: “This continued violence against our law enforcement officers is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. We must come together as one to protect our community and our police officers from those that choose to engage in vicious acts.

“After speaking to the officer, he wished to share his violent encounter. This dangerous subject must be held accountable and prosecuted to the highest extent of the law. Join me in praying for the officer’s recovery.”

It is currently unclear why the prisoner was originally being held.