Another student who objected to the way the student was treated was also arrested and faces a similar charge. The FBI will collect all available facts and evidence in order to determine whether a federal law was violated. That investigation is being handled internally, including the department’s Internal Affairs unit.
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School district officials planned to address the media at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
A video surfaced Monday showing Deputy Ben Fields grabbing a student in her desk, flipping her and the desk over, then dragging her on the floor from the classroom.
The plaintiff in the suit, Ashton James Reese, was expelled from Spring Valley after Fields said that he was a gang member who had taken part in a “huge gang fight”.
Kelly, in turn, was arrested for “disturbing schools” and released on a $1,000 bond. The girl stays seated, so the officer wraps a forearm around the child’s neck. Fields is also accused of making a lewd comment to Tashiana while she was being driven away.
The girl does not appear to resist or argue with the officer during the short video.
“I was screaming ‘What the f, what the f is this really happening?’ I was praying out loud for the girl”, says Kenny. He flips her backward in the desk, drags her out of it, then tosses her on the floor.
Mr Robinson said it was a scary experience and there was no “justifiable reason” for the officer’s actions.
A video on social media began spreading late Monday of a violent assault on a Columbus, South Carolina high school student by a police officer.
Currently, Fields is one of 10 defendants in another case scheduled to go to trial in January. Authorities say race did not play a role in the incident. According to the New York Times, Fields is not now permitted to work at any of the district’s schools.
Martin eventually took Fields to court, but the case was dismissed after it was ruled that there were no signs of excessive force.
During the moments posted online, Fields can be seen standing over the girl, asking her to stand up. Jackson called the video a “national disgrace” that fits a pattern of unfair behavior against blacks.
The incident took place between a school resource officer employed by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and a student.
He said another female, who might not be visible in the footage, was also arrested for disturbing schools.
“When I saw what was about to happen my immediate first thing to think is let me get this on camera”, Robinson said. The hashtag #AssaultAtSpringValleyHigh was picked up around the country, and the Richland Two Black Parents Association applauded a federal inquiry, saying the activity revealed on the video was symptomatic of larger racial issues in the district.
“But looking at the video, who was really disturbing schools?”
Wilson says the deputy is white and the student is black.
She was told that she was under arrest, but again refused to leave the classroom, Lott told the station. The officer has been suspended.
Now, according to USA Today, Sheriff Leon Lott has asked the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Justice Department to conduct an investigation of the incident.
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The Richland County Sheriff’s Office said Monday night Fields would be placed on administrative duties.
