There were at least two incidents at Saturday’s Florida-Georgia game where police officers seemingly pummeled fans in attendance.
Footage has gone viral online of one officer apparently firing hammer fists toward the back of the head of one Florida fan. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office released bodycam footage of that incident as well as another.
In “Incident 1,” two officers approach a fan, later identified as Walter Brown, in the last rows of EverBank Stadium, where Brown says a fan “assaulted” him and tried to “kidnap” his kids.
A general view of Florida Georgia signage before the start of a game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Florida Gators at EverBank Stadium on October 28, 2023 in Jacksonville, Florida. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Shortly after officers ask Brown to leave, he allegedly turns to a woman and says, “I’m either going to kill a cop or not leave.”
“Officer Kelly” then pulls out a stun gun while “Officer Bowers” tries to speak with Brown as he refuses to leave.
Brown then tells Bowers that he will “beat [his] f—ing ass.” Kelly then approaches Brown and tries to grab his arm, to which Brown says, “Don’t touch me, n—–.” Shortly after, Kelly fires the stun gun.
Bowers tries to subdue Brown but is unsuccessful. Brown then allegedly calls Kelly the slur at least four more times before Bowers fires his own stun gun.
(James Gilbert/Getty Images)
As Brown tries to pull out the wires from the stun gun, Kelly is allegedly shown shoving and punching the suspect while Bowers tries to handcuff Brown, who apparently says he’s “fixing to get rich” as bystanders say the officers will lose their jobs.
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The department also provided cellphone video in which Brown appears to reach for Kelly’s gun but is unable to holster it.
Later in the game, in what the office called “Incident 2,” three officers are shown responding to fans deemed unruly by others in attendance. After three fans are marked as ejected, they plead to stay. “Sgt. Beasley” then grabs one of the fans in question, which prompts a melee between the fans and the officers.
One officer seemingly throws repeated hammer fists to the back of the head of one fan, the original moment that went viral online. The department did not release this officer’s bodycam footage.
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Despite the violence, Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said the officers were “within policy.”
“Yes, there was force used,” Waters said Tuesday afternoon at a news conference. “And yes, that force is always ugly. … [It] does not mean it was unlawful or contrary to policy.”
Waters also said cellphone footage was “intentionally misleading” to “advance an anti-police agenda.” He also said 35 people were ejected from the game, while eight in total were arrested, including the four aforementioned suspects.
Fans tailgate before the start of the Florida-Georgia game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., on Nov. 2, 2024. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Florida tied the game at 20 in the fourth quarter on Sunday, but the Bulldogs scored 14 unanswered points to take home the victory.
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