Shocking footage of a Florida police officer physically striking a man involved in an alleged hit-and-run has led to the officer’s suspension.
Officer Shaun Wright has been placed on administrative leave pending an Internal Affairs inquiry after viral video showed the altercation on Railroad Avenue and St. Francis Street in the state capital, Tallahassee
The 47-second video was posted to Instagram after it was filmed by a group of girls who watched the entire incident from an apartment building directly across the street from where the 27-year-old suspect was arrested.
A Florida police officer was caught on camera violently beating up a suspect
Video shows Tallahassee Police Department Officer Wright lifting the suspect into the air before turning him upside down and slamming the concrete on his head
The incident, which took place in Tallahassee on Friday, was captured by both officers’ body cams along with some residents filming across the street
The suspect appeared dazed for a moment after being thrown to the ground
The girls filming the interaction were stunned as Wright lifted the unnamed suspect into the air and dropped him on his head before slamming the rest of his body to the ground and handcuffing him.
‘Oh my God! They just threw him head first on the ground. He didn’t even fight!’ shouts one.
“The Tallahassee Police Department is aware of a video that is circulating on social media. The incident has been referred to our Department of Internal Affairs for further review,” Police Commissioner Lawrence Revell said.
Revell also released body camera footage worn by Wright and his partner.
The suspect is heard questioning the reason for his arrest, but Wright refused to give a specific reason.
Throughout the interaction, the suspect could be heard asking the reason for his arrest
Officer Wright, left, has been placed on paid administrative leave. It was Officer Gilbert’s body cam, right, that captured the entire shocking episode on tape
“Here’s your statement: You’re under arrest,” Wright said.
Video released by the Tallahassee Police Department shows officers saw the man had a knife and acted with some caution as they attempted to handcuff him as quickly as possible.
But the suspect refuses to cooperate until he is given a reasonable reason for his arrest, which the police officer refuses to offer.
The clearest view of the body slamming comes from the body cam carried by his partner, identified only as Officer Gilbert, standing yards away.
The suspect was then quickly handcuffed and arrested while still asking the reason for his arrest.
The incident was also caught on camera as residents filmed with their cellphones
The filmers appeared to be shocked that the suspect, who didn’t resist, was thrown head first onto the ground
The officer is seen intentionally slamming the suspect head first onto the sidewalk
The officer continued to refuse to give a reasonable reason for the arrest.
Shortly after being tied up, the man was seen being taken to a nearby squad car. During this time, he was asked by Officer Gilbert if he was injured.
A discussion then ensues between the two officers, with the male officer and his partner discussing how they will complete a police report on the incident.
Officer Wright notes that his use of force may well be under investigation by his superiors. He has since been placed on paid administrative leave.
A spokesman for the Tallahassee Police Department provided more details, saying officers spoke to the man about a hit-and-run accident.
The incident and Officer Wright’s actions have been turned over to the Department of Internal Affairs for further investigation
The suspect was asked if he was injured as he was put in a squad car. He said he wasn’t
“We had an incident brought to our attention late over the weekend where our officers were responding to a hit and run and when witnesses at the scene observed the hit and run suspect walking our officers went and made contact with him suspects,” said Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell.
“He was positively identified by several witnesses and when they tried to arrest him for hit and run he resisted and was brought to the ground and then taken to the Leon County Jail without injuries.”
The department also confirmed that the suspect had a knife during the arrest.
He was reported because he had left the scene of the accident with property damage and non-violently resisted an officer, both administrative offences. He was taken to the Leon County Detention Center and released on $250 bail, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.
According to the general directive of the Tallahassee Police Department: “When officers respond in any way to resistance fighting, they have a responsibility to make the preservation of human life their first priority and to use only the amount of force that is objectively appropriate to end the crime.” Incident to effectively end control.’