Transgender influencer and content creator Nikita Dragun was arrested and held in a men's unit of a Miami jail this week after being arrested, reports NPR. Dragun, who is legally recognized as female, is facing charges of misdemeanor disorderly conduct and felony battery of a law enforcement officer. After being jailed for at least a day, she was released on her own recognizance. Dragun creates content on YouTube (her videos have over 250 million views) and Instagram (with nine million followers). Her content openly centers around gender identity and covers her lifestyle and beauty tricks. Dragun was held in a men's unit of the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami, during her hearing Dragun reportedly asked a judge whether she had to remain in the men's unit. "I don't make the rules up there," the judge said.
Dragun was arrested after allegedly causing a disturbance and walking around The Goodtime Hotel pool naked. Security staff reportedly told Dragun to stop, and she threw water at them. Police and security staff went at her room, where she was told to stop disturbing patrons at the hotel or she would have to leave. Dragun allegedly then threw an open bottle at a security guard and police officer, covering them in water. Representatives for Dragun criticized how Miami police handled her incarceration. "The situation with Nikita, who is legally female, being placed in a men's unit of a Florida jail is extremely disturbing and dangerous," said Jack Ketsoyan of Full Scope Public Relations. "This decision made by the Miami-Dade County corrections department directly violates their protocol, which mandates that transgender inmates are classified and housed based on safety needs and gender identity.." Dragun's arrest and incarceration in a men's unit are notable given her stature, but it's a common occurrence for many trans individuals. Many corrections departments place individuals in facilities according to their assigned sex at birth or genitalia at the time they were arrested. Research shows that transgender inmates face a greater risk of assault and abuse.