Questions linger as deputy is fired over tossing teen
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina sheriff says he acted swiftly but carefully in firing a school resource officer caught on video flipping a disruptive student out of her desk and tossing her across the floor. In the wake of the firing, though, questions remain about whether the officer should have been in the classroom in the first place, and where the former deputy goes from here.
The Spring Valley High School student refused to leave the classroom Monday despite being told by a teacher and an administrator to do so, according to Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said. That's when Senior Deputy Ben Fields was brought in to remove her. She again refused, and Fields told her she was under arrest.
Video shows the deputy flipping the teen backward and then throwing her across the room. At that point, Lott said Wednesday, Fields did not use proper procedure.
“Police officers make mistakes too. They're human and they need to be held accountable, and that's what we've done with Deputy Ben Fields,” Lott said.
In a statement, Richland 2 Superintendent Debbie Hamm said: “We know important work is ahead of us as we thoughtfully and carefully review the decision-making process that may lead to a school resource officer taking the lead in handling a student disruption.”
Lott said Wednesday that both the teacher and vice principal in the classroom at the time told deputies they supported Fields' actions.
Fields' was fired and banned from Richland 2 District properties. Federal and state investigations into his actions have just begun, so it will be unknown for some time if he will face charges.
The sheriff also had stern words for the student who he said started the confrontation by refusing to hand over her cell phone after her math teacher saw her texting in class — a violation of school policy.
Both she and another student who verbally challenged the officer's actions during the arrest still face misdemeanor charges of disturbing schools, punishable by up to a $1,000 fine or 90 days in jail, Lott said, although in most cases, judges impose alternative sentences.
