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Justice Department opens inquiry into officer's forceful removal of student Justice Department opens inquiry into officer's forceful removal of student
(about 2 hours later)
The Department of Justice has opened a federal civil rights investigation after a South Carolina school resource officer was captured on video pulling a female high school student from her desk and dragging her across a classroom.The Department of Justice has opened a federal civil rights investigation after a South Carolina school resource officer was captured on video pulling a female high school student from her desk and dragging her across a classroom.
Justice Department spokeswoman Dena Iverson said the investigation will look into “the circumstances surrounding the arrest” and determine if a federal law was broken.Justice Department spokeswoman Dena Iverson said the investigation will look into “the circumstances surrounding the arrest” and determine if a federal law was broken.
The video shows a school monitor reported to be Ben Fields – who is also a Richland County sheriff’s deputy – confronting the student. On Tuesday afternoon Lonnie Randolph, president of the South Carolina chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, called the officer’s behavior “aggressive and inhumane” and that racism was a factor. Randolph called for the officer, who is white, to be criminally charged.
When she refuses to leave her seat in a classroom at Spring Valley high school in Columbia, he tells her: “I’ll make you.” He then wraps his arm around her neck, flips her desk backward, then drags her across the floor. He arrested both the girl, and a male student. The video shows a school monitor reported to be Ben Fields – who is also a Richland County sheriff’s deputy – confronting the student, who is black.
When she refuses to leave her seat in a classroom at Spring Valley high school in Columbia, he tells her: “I’ll make you.” He then wraps his arm around her neck, flips her desk backward, then drags her across the floor. He arrested her and another female student who tried to intervene.
“I don’t think it’s proper to respond to students as if they are being arrested,” Randolph said. “For what? For what?”
According to a classmate, the student in question had peeked at her cellphone during class. When the teacher tried to take the phone away, the student refused to hand it over, and when a school administrator told her to leave the class, she stayed at her desk, which is when Fields was summoned.According to a classmate, the student in question had peeked at her cellphone during class. When the teacher tried to take the phone away, the student refused to hand it over, and when a school administrator told her to leave the class, she stayed at her desk, which is when Fields was summoned.
Officials said the confrontation at Spring Valley high school in Columbia occurred on Monday after the student refused the officer’s order to leave the classroom for being disruptive.Officials said the confrontation at Spring Valley high school in Columbia occurred on Monday after the student refused the officer’s order to leave the classroom for being disruptive.
The sheriff’s department has placed Fields on administrative leave while it investigates the case.The sheriff’s department has placed Fields on administrative leave while it investigates the case.
A spokeswoman for the school district, Libby Roof, said on Monday night that the administration was “deeply concerned”. “We are investigating it, along with the sheriff’s office,” she said.A spokeswoman for the school district, Libby Roof, said on Monday night that the administration was “deeply concerned”. “We are investigating it, along with the sheriff’s office,” she said.
The county sheriff’s office had requested a federal investigation. The federal probe will include the FBI, the Justice Department’s civil rights division and the US attorney’s office in South Carolina.The county sheriff’s office had requested a federal investigation. The federal probe will include the FBI, the Justice Department’s civil rights division and the US attorney’s office in South Carolina.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.The Associated Press contributed to this report.