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| South Carolina school video: Officer-pupil clash investigated | South Carolina school video: Officer-pupil clash investigated |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A US sheriff's department says it is investigating after a video emerged showing an officer throwing a female pupil across a classroom. | A US sheriff's department says it is investigating after a video emerged showing an officer throwing a female pupil across a classroom. |
| The footage posted online on Monday was said to be filmed in a school in Columbia, South Carolina. | The footage posted online on Monday was said to be filmed in a school in Columbia, South Carolina. |
| US media said the pupil had refused to leave the classroom when asked. The school "resource officer" was called. | |
| The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said there was "no justification" for the incident. | The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said there was "no justification" for the incident. |
| The officer is white and the female student, who was unharmed, is black, the sheriff's office said. | The officer is white and the female student, who was unharmed, is black, the sheriff's office said. |
| The incident comes at a time of increased scrutiny of police and their use of force against African Americans. | The incident comes at a time of increased scrutiny of police and their use of force against African Americans. |
| "It's very disturbing what happened today," said Richard County Sheriff Leon Lott, who has requested a federal investigation on the incident. | "It's very disturbing what happened today," said Richard County Sheriff Leon Lott, who has requested a federal investigation on the incident. |
| In a video obtained by South Carolina's WIS network, the officer, Ben Fields, is seen confronting the pupil, who is sitting at her desk. They then exchange words. | In a video obtained by South Carolina's WIS network, the officer, Ben Fields, is seen confronting the pupil, who is sitting at her desk. They then exchange words. |
| Mr Fields had been assigned to the school and was meant to protect students and faculty and promote anti-crime and anti-drug initiatives. | |
| He then appears to restrain her around the neck, before quickly pulling her and her desk backwards to the floor. | He then appears to restrain her around the neck, before quickly pulling her and her desk backwards to the floor. |
| The video shows him throwing the pupil a few metres across the classroom. She is then restrained. | The video shows him throwing the pupil a few metres across the classroom. She is then restrained. |
| Throughout the incident, other pupils remain seated, but some stand up and comment when the pupil is on the floor. | Throughout the incident, other pupils remain seated, but some stand up and comment when the pupil is on the floor. |
| The video does not show what happened before the officer arrived. | The video does not show what happened before the officer arrived. |
| What does a 'School Resource Officer' do? | |
| source: Richland County Sheriff's Department | |
| The footage has been widely shared internationally on social media, with the term #AssaultatSpringValleyHigh used by many on Twitter. | The footage has been widely shared internationally on social media, with the term #AssaultatSpringValleyHigh used by many on Twitter. |
| The State newspaper in Columbia reported that the pupil and a male student were detained for breaching the peace. | The State newspaper in Columbia reported that the pupil and a male student were detained for breaching the peace. |
| Sheriff's spokesman Curtis Wilson told a press conference the girl had been asked to leave the classroom "several times" before the officer was called. | Sheriff's spokesman Curtis Wilson told a press conference the girl had been asked to leave the classroom "several times" before the officer was called. |
| The officer has been taken off front-line policing while a sheriff's department investigation takes place, Mr Wilson said. | The officer has been taken off front-line policing while a sheriff's department investigation takes place, Mr Wilson said. |
| Debbie Hamm, the district's school superintendent, said in a statement that authorities were "deeply concerned" over the incident. | |
| The state's ACLU said such "egregious use of force" against young people in class was "outrageous". | The state's ACLU said such "egregious use of force" against young people in class was "outrageous". |
| One group called the Richland Black Parents Association said the video "revealed what many African American parents have experienced in this district for a very long time." | |
| Security in US schools | Security in US schools |