Deputy Ben Fields, assigned to Spring Valley High School in South Carolina has been suspended without pay, after a cell phone video of him violently arresting a teen girl surfaced Monday. There is absolutely no justification, no matter how you rationalize it…for how he treated this child. She was of absolutely no harm to the officer or anyone in that classroom. It started over her pulling out her cell phone during class. The teacher asked her to leave the class, but she refused. The resource officer was summoned, and upon entering the classroom…without stopping to ascertain the seriousness of the situation, he leap into action by commanding her to get up from her desk and leave the room. In the video, he can be seen thrashing her about before pulling her from her seat and tossing her across the room into a wall. His actions not only put her well-being in peril, but that of every other child in that classroom.

At no time before or during his arrival she was a threat to herself or others. She was non combative with the officer, thus his use of force cannot be justified. His objective should have been to de-escalate…not abuse and intimidate. He had the advantage of size and strength over her. That gave him ample opportunity to use a less abusive form of restraint. Considering his history, no one should be surprised by his behavior…which happened to be more egregious than hers. It is being reporter that he had two cases of excessive force in his file, one having battery attached to it and one still ongoing awaiting to be heard by the courts in January 2016. Knowing he has an ongoing case against him for excessive force, he shouldn’t be on the job right now much less in a school. He’s now opened the school district, and the police department that employs him up to civil liabilities…not to mention, you’ve jeopardized your own gainful employment. I whole heartedly believe that most officers are great cops. I believe most of them are trustworthy and show respect for the oath they took to uphold the law – they take the responsibility to serve and protect earnestly. We must call out the ones that overstep their bounds. Not doing so, puts every officer in danger. Every child in that classroom has just given an eyewitness account and reason to perceive the police as a threat now. Even at their age, they still learn from the examples we set. That’s just the truth.

Instead of causing a scene over a cell phone, why didn’t the teacher simply let it go, move on with classroom instruction and deal with it after class? This could have very easily been dealt with after class between the student, administrators and parents without the need for police intervention. See, there are ways to de escalate and discipline accordingly. And, what was the students issue? (Other than the obvious). It’s obvious that even during the use of force and struggle, when most adults would be screaming, she as a child didn’t squeal or scream once. That gives one the inclination that something may be wrong with that child. That’s why de escalation should taken place. If there is an issue it can be identified at that time and dealt with accordingly. Schools are charged with the safety of our children at all times while in their care. Nothing in this video depicts their care for her safety. That’s concerning.

I’m appalled at the amount of people justifying this officers’ behavior. This is a child. Disrespectful yes, but that level of force is totally out of line. It would be out of line even if it was an adult. Students interviewed even said it was commonplace for him to treat students like this. The whole point in having an officer on staff at a school is to PROTECT the students, not to make them terrified of police officers for the rest of their lives. This “comply or die” attitude is unacceptable in a country built upon laws.

Below is a video of the incident… It’s disturbing to watch, but I hope it makes you think.