A white police officer in Florida has reportedly been put on leave after grabbing a black teenager by the neck and pinning him against a wall.
Deputy Neil Pizzo slapped Terrance Devon Reed III, 17, and threw him to the ground ‘because he jumped up with a look in his eye’.
The boy was taken to hospital after Pizzo was filmed hitting him on the floor at the Sarasota County Juvenile Assessment Center last Tuesday, September 1. Footage shows the deputy pinning Terrance to the floor for around a minute after appearing to strangle him.
It comes in the wake of heightened racial tensions in the USA and across the world, following the May death of George Floyd, who repeatedly said ‘I can’t breathe’ while under the knee of a white police officer.
That sparked a global backlash against racism and police brutality, with various incidents of police violence towards black people being highlighted since.
The latest clip, which has no sound, begins with Pizzo walking quickly towards Terrance, who has his arms inside his shirt, but gets up just before the altercation starts.
It then shows Pizzo slamming the teenager, being held on three charges, against the wall before appearing to repeatedly slap him.
Another officer, who is black, also restrains Terrance while Pizzo strikes him.
He then handcuffs him before three other officers walk in and the footage ends.
Terrance is said to have become uncooperative while being held on charges of contempt of court, probation violations and selling cocaine.
According to Pizzo’s report, Reed jumped from the bench with a ‘look in his eyes’ after an exchange of insults, local media said.
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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/09/08/white-police-officer-suspended-after-he-was-filmed-throttling-black-teenager-in-custody-13237903/