Brian Hamacher

BSO Bodycam Shows Confrontation Between Deputy, Blanche Ely Student

The Broward Sheriff's Office released bodycam footage of the takedown of a teen at Blanche Ely High School, an incident in which parents and attorneys are accusing the deputy of using excessive force against the student.

Attorneys of 17-year-old Jordan Bennett said the teen was having a verbal argument with another student at the Pompano Beach school back on Feb. 21 when a deputy tackled Bennett and slammed his head to the cafeteria floor.

The teen was taken to a hospital, where he received stitches and was left with a scar on his forehead. Part of the incident was captured on cell phone video.

"Don't tell me that you could not take my client who engaged in a verbal altercation with another student without leaving a permanent scar on his forehead. I don't buy it, the people of Broward County don't buy it, and enough is enough," attorney Jasmine Rand said at a news conference last week. "If you keep coming for our babies, we're going to keep for your badges, period."

The new bodycam footage, released Monday, challenges Rand's claims that the deputy escalated a situation that was not physical.

"I took him down to the ground and handcuffed him and he hit his head on the ground," the deputy is heard saying in the footage. The bodycam video showed blood dripping from the teen's head when he was taken down.

In the video, the deputy indirectly challenges those claims himself through what he says to fellow deputies and Bennett after the takedown.

"Kid's out of control man, out of control," the deputy is heard saying. "... Dude, I'm so upset with you ... you guys are ridiculous man. You should know better ... now you’re calm?"

Last week, Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony defended his deputy's actions and that he had the right to hold Bennett down after he responded to a "physical altercation." He also said there will be no internal affairs investigation for deputy, who has been with BSO for over 20 years.

"The allegations that were made by Mr. Bennet's attorney are not consistent and they're not accurate with what video shows, what the deputy’s actions were and what was articulated in the report," Tony said in a conference last week.

NBC 6 reached out BSO, who said they did not have anything else to add in light of the new footage. Bennett's lawyer has not returned requests for comment.

Editor's Note: A previous version of the story stated the bodycam footage showed an arrest. BSO never arrested the student.

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