Where is Surfside? Florida city site of Gisele Bündchen's distressing traffic stop

A former Victoria’s Secret Angel drew national attention to a South Florida city, just not for pleasant reasons.

A Surfside police officer’s body camera was rolling as supermodel and ex-wife of NFL great Tom Brady Gisele Bündchen broke down in tears after being pulled over, telling the cop that paparazzi had been following her.

The officer, who remains unidentified, has seen criticism on social media and by Surfside officials for his handling of Bündchen. Many are claiming he was dismissive of her concerns and "lacked empathy" for the visibly upset model.

Where is Surfside, Florida?

Surfside is a residential beachside community in Miami-Dade County. It is only accessible by bridge, nestled between Miami Beach and Bal Harbour.

Many might recognize town after it dominated headlines back in June 2021 after a 12-story condominium collapsed, killing 98 people and leaving dozens without a home. Within prior USA TODAY and The Palm Beach Post investigations, it was reported that the construction had been botched and the building had been "set on a course to rot from the foundation up."

Does Gisele Bündchen live in Surfside?

While the Brazilian supermodel doesn't live in Surfside, she does live in South Florida.

It was reported last December that she paid around $9 million for a 7.5-acre equestrian ranch in Southwest Ranches, according to TopTenRealEstateDeals.com. Her home is 5,200 square feet and boasts nine bedrooms, a floating glass staircase, a hibachi grill, pizza oven, barbecue pit, soccer facilities, tennis courts, an infinity pool, hot tub and a stable.

She already owns an $11.5 million property in the Sunshine State at Billionaire Bunker in Miami, right next to ex-husband and retired NFL quarterback Tom Brady.

What happened to Gisele Bündchen in Surfside?

On Wednesday, April 24, body cam footage shows a visibly upset Bündchen being pulled over last week by Surfside police, telling the police officer she was only trying to flee from paparazzi following her.

In the video, the police officer tells her that he "knows who she is" but says there is nothing he could do. He tells her to file a report with the Miami Beach Police Department, which is where the paparazzi started following her.

The officer then asks Bündchen why she is crying.

“I’m so tired. Everywhere I go, I have these f— guys after me. Nothing protects me,” Bündchen answers. “I can do nothing. I just want to live my life.”

“I can’t prevent them from doing their job, which is to take pictures,” the officer says. “Do you need anything else? Can I assist you in anything else?”

She declines his offer for additional help but thanks him. He also did not give a ticket to Bündchen.

What did Surfside officials say about Bündchen's traffic stop?

Since the bodycam was made available, the police officer has faced backlash nationwide for how he responded to the model while she was visibly shaken up.

In a letter addressed to the town’s police chief Henry Doce, Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett condemned the treatment of Bündchen and claimed the police officer showed “dismissive posture” towards the supermodel.

“This response is wholly unacceptable and not reflective of the values, judgment and service residents expect from their police,” Burkett wrote. “The dismissive posture towards a resident who is clearly in distress is everything we do not want to see in the way our police interact and serve our residents.”

As for Doce, he agrees that the interaction should have gone differently, telling CBS News Miami it is a learning experience.

"I understand what the mayor is saying, but I also understand that was a fluid situation where the officer really wasn't understanding everything," he said. "I think we could have been much more empathetic at that moment."

What happened to the Surfside officer who spoke to Bündchen?

Doce also told CBS News Miami the police officer, who has been on the force for decades, is not facing any disciplinary actions.

He revealed the officer did speak to the person Bündchen alleged was following her and told him to move on. Doce explained having paparazzi is a new experience for the city of Surfside, so officers are being told to be more vigilant and speak with them.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Gisele Bündchen pulled over in Florida and video causes reaction