UPDATED 12/16/19 12:22 p.m. ET: The North Carolina school resource officer initially placed on paid leave has been fired, according to ABC11. Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame told the news outlet that the deputy's termination is "effective immediately."
See original story below.
A North Carolina school resource officer has been put on paid administrative leave after a video that shows him slamming a middle school student to the ground twice and then dragging him was released. The video was recorded Thursday. The officer, an employee of the Vance County Sheriff's Department, has not been identified.
Vance County Schools filed a complaint with Sheriff Curtis Brame's office about a juvenile assaulted by a law enforcement officer, CBS 17 reports. The sheriff gave the investigation over to the State Bureau of Investigation after watching the video.
“We went over and when we first saw the video, we were stunned, we were shocked. We all are parents and grandparents that have children at that same age, so it brought some great concern to us,” Sheriff Brame told the news outlet.
According to the unnamed student's sister, the 11-year-boy will be OK after suffering a bump on his head. The child was not hospitalized.
Vance County Schools released a statement relating to the incident.
"We are deeply concerned by the actions that took place. School and district officials are working closely and in full cooperation with the local authorities to address this matter consistent with school board policy and state laws," the statement read, according to CNN. "The safety of our students has been and continues to be of the utmost importance to our district."
District Attorney Michael Waters was shocked at the actions of the resource officer. "This is the first time I have had a school resource officer in a school using force like this on a student," he claimed.
