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Sheriff says Florida deputies ‘acting within policy’ after video shows them punching fans at UF-Georgia game
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Sheriff says Florida deputies ‘acting within policy’ after video shows them punching fans at UF-Georgia game

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (WFLA) — The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office released body camera footage Monday evening showing video shared widely on social media surrounding the incidents in which officers punched fans in the stands.

At one game, Walter Brown was asked to leave the stadium. Brown began using racial slurs and threatened to kill the officer, the video shows. After he refused to leave, officers began attacking him, at which point Brown was seen holding the officer’s gun.

In the second match, captured on video, Michael Long, Alexander Long and Brandon Boley were seen refusing to leave the stadium when asked. MPs said they complained about the behavior of other fans and did not feel safe in their seats.

A fan went and directed the officers to the area where the three men were sitting.

Michael Long allegedly went into a fighting stance and did not comply with police. Deputies said the officer hit him twice and tried to pull him toward the stairs. One of the three men was seen jumping on another officer.

In a longer video than shared on social media, Michael Long can be seen pinning his hands on the officer’s face before starting to strike the officer in the back of the neck.

The University of Florida and the University of Georgia were playing at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville when the violence occurred.

Graphic warning: This video may be disturbing to some viewers.

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Surrounding fans looked shocked and disgruntled as security handcuffed both fans to the ground.

According to the video’s owner, Jeff Daniel Clark, the fan was “unruly” and “did not obey” deputies who tried to remove him from the game.

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“Although the use of force appeared to be intense, our investigation determined that in both incidents the officers acted within the policy of protecting themselves and nearby fans,” deputies said.

Boley, Brown, Michael Long and Alexander Long were arrested, according to the sheriff’s office.

A total of eight people were arrested and 35 were sent off during Saturday’s match, MPs said. Sheriff TK Waters said the other four arrests and 35 removals went smoothly because the public was obedient.

“Power looks ugly again. And because all power is ugly, not all, not with the misconduct of officials. “This is an ugly thing that happens when you have to be physically with someone who refuses to do what you want them to do,” Waters said.

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