OfficerBluePasco County, FL – A viral video generated outrage after a school resource officer was recorded on a cell phone throwing a teen girl to the ground (video below).
Now Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco has released the bodycam video which showed the whole incident, and praised the deputy for his actions.
The incident started on Tuesday when the school resource officer for Sunlake High School, Deputy Rich Stackon, was called to disruptive a student who refused to leave the cafeteria, according to Bay News 9.
A witness told Bay News 9 that the girl was walking up and down the room yelling.
The deputy arrived and asked the student to speak with him outside, and she refused to cooperate.
“He was doing everything possible to de-escalate the situation and get her out of that cafeteria as quickly as possible,” Sheriff Nocco said.
That’s when the bodycam shows that the student raised her fist, either to pull away or to strike the deputy – something the cell phone video didn’t show.
Deputy Stackton grabbed her and took her to the ground.
“I think his conduct was good. I think his conduct was above and beyond,” Sheriff Nocco said. “He says, ‘Look, I did everything I could do. I didn’t want to take her, I didn’t want to pepper spray her.'”
You can see the viral cell phone video below. After below that, you can see the bodycam video of the full incident: