JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (WFLA) — The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office released body camera footage Monday evening that showed the events surrounding video widely shared on social media of the officers punching fans in the stands.
In one encounter, Walter Brown was asked to leave the stadium. Brown began using racial slurs and threatened to kill the officer, video shows. After refusing to leave, the officers began striking him, at which point Brown could be seen grabbing at the officer’s gun.
A second encounter captured on videos showed Michael Long, Alexander Long, and Brandon Boley refusing to leave the stadium when asked. Other fans were complaining about their behavior and said they didn’t feel safe in their seats, deputies said.
One fan went and directed the officers to the area where the three men were sitting.
Michael Long allegedly got into a fighting stance and would not comply with the officer. Deputies said the officer hit him twice and tried to pull him into the stairway. One of the three men was seen jumping at another officer.
A longer video than the one shared on social media showed Michael Long sticking his hands in the officer’s face before the officer began striking him in the back of the neck.
The teams from the University of Florida and the University of Georgia were facing off at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville when the violence occurred.
Graphic warning: This video may be disturbing for some viewers.
Surrounding fans looked shocked and disgruntled as security handcuffed both fans on the ground.
According to the video owner, Jeff Daniel Clark, the fan was “unruly” and “did not comply” with deputies, who were attempting to remove him from the game.
“While the use of force can appear intense, our investigation determined that the officers in both incidents acted within policy to protect themselves and nearby fans,” deputies said.
Boley, Brown, Michael Long and Alexander Long were all arrested, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies said that there were a total of eight arrests and 35 ejections from Saturday’s game. Sheriff T.K. Waters noted that the other four arrests and 35 ejections all happened without issue because the people complied.
“Force again looks ugly. And because all force is ugly, not all, not because officers are engaged in misconduct. It’s just an ugly thing that happens when you have to be physical with someone who is refusing to do what you ask them to do,” Waters said.