The headline you just read may sound like it’s a given, but until today, no one knew what would happen to (now ex) Deputy Ben Fields, a South Carolina police officer who assaulted a student earlier this week. On Monday, the video of his assault (warning: disturbing content) went viral and on Tuesday, Sheriff Leon Lott stuck up for the deputy, saying that the attack couldn’t have been racially motivated because Fields is “dating a black female.” It seems, however, that Lott has come to his senses, because he fired the cop earlier today.
Death and Taxes reports that Lott announced the firing at a press conference where he also reminded everyone that none of this would have happened if the student had been more compliant. Still, no amount of non-compliance could have justified the actions seen in the video:
Lott said that, while the incident started with the actions of a disruptive student, Deputy Officer Fields “did not follow proper training or proper procedure when he threw the student across the room.” That, Lott said, represented a violation of police policy and therefore, Fields was terminated Wednesday morning.
That’s one thing settled, but Fields’ victim’s attorney says that the former deputy should be in jail for what he’s done. From Yahoo:
Attorney Todd Rutherford said Wednesday that the girl went to the hospital Monday night and has a cast on her arm and has complained of neck, back and psychological injuries.
Rutherford said if an officer had done that to an animal, he would be in jail. He also says the officer should not have been called to the classroom in the first place.
According to Yahoo, Fields has not yet made a comment. There are, reports, however, that Fields’ lawyer says the former cop’s actions were not wrong.
https://twitter.com/GrasswireNow/status/659501326728982528
(Via Death and Taxes, Yahoo)