By Joanna Putman
Police1
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is investigating viral videos showing separate altercations between officers and spectators at the Florida-Georgia game at EverBank Stadium, the Jacksonville Florida Times-Union reported.
One widely shared video, with over 15 million views on social media, shows two deputies struggling with two different spectators in the stands. The officers appeared to be punch the spectators during the struggle.
Here's another angle of this cop.
— FinesseNYC (@alldaynightNY12) November 4, 2024
Is the Jacksonville police for real?
He was beating 2 people at the game.
And I back the blue. But this!?!?@GovRonDeSantis pic.twitter.com/sKL6w6MJuT
Another video of a separate incident shows an officer using a TASER on a confrontational spectator. After being TASED, the fan advanced toward the officer and the two appeared to exchange punches.
Man at Georgia V. Florida Game refuses to comply with Jacksonville Sheriff’s Deputies. The man is then tasered and one Deputy appears to strike him multiple times with a pair of handcuffs in his hand.
— John D. Macari Jr. 🇺🇸🗽 (@JohnDMacari) November 3, 2024
Was this use of force necessary or excessive ?
pic.twitter.com/zvZYj6OLOg
Neither video captured the events leading up to the confrontations.
“The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office’s Professional Standards Division is aware of the videos circulating from the Georgia-Florida football game,” the office stated in a social media post. “Administrative reviews of the incidents are being opened. As such, the agency will not comment until all facts are known and the reviews have been completed.”
The sheriff’s office said on Monday it plans to release body-worn camera video from the incidents and an update on the status of the administrative reviews, News4JAX reports.
Mayor Donna Deegan acknowledged the videos and expressed that she has spoken to Sheriff T.K. Waters, stating that the mayor’s office is awaiting the outcome of the investigation.