The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office faces criticism from fans after viral video shows officers punching fans at a college football game - WSVN 7News

College football fans are speaking out after things took a violent turn in the stands during a game. Several officers were seen throwing punches.
Many say there was no need for violence.

Jeremy Williamson, a UGA fan from Savannah, Georgia, said he saw officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office punch and taser a man in front of his two children over questions about digital tickets.

Williamson said it started when event staff confronted the man’s children.

“He grabs the kids and goes back to his seats. A few minutes later we see the two officers arrive with event staff and they immediately say to the man, “Hey, come on, come with us, you’re going to be kicked out.” You all have to leave,” Williamson said.

Williamson said the man calmly said, “We’re not leaving.”

And then things escalated.

Much of the incident was captured on a video that eventually went viral.

But what was said and done prior to the physical contact is still unknown.

“The officer decided, OK, I’m just going to taser you. He tases him several times and then he takes off his handcuffs, he wraps the handcuffs around his knuckles like brass knuckles and starts punching the guy in the head,” said Williamson.

The video shows the officer hitting the man with his handcuffs.

Williamson adds that there were at least 20 empty seats in that section, which he says makes the use of force more disturbing.

“The area they were in was actually right at the edge of the top of the stadium with temporary seating and they decided to tase him and then push him over the seats and punch him,” Williamson said.

After witnessing the JSO officer’s misconduct, he believes that Jacksonville should no longer host the Georgia/Florida Games.

Another incident was captured on video.

Florida fan Lance Harlan said he doesn’t know why this JSO officer was throwing punches.

He said three fans were bagged and dragged outside.

“That wasn’t necessary anyway, shape or form. I mean, you hit a guy who is obviously older, he didn’t try to fight back,” Harlan said.

Harlan said these people were not fighting, just being loud and rowdy, like many fans in attendance.

“Yeah, it just seemed strange how the police showed up because there were three above us and there were a few more under the ends of the side and I thought, that’s a bit much, you know, for a loud fan . . I could tell if they were there fighting or, you know, doing something like that,” Harlan said.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said it was aware of the videos and is now investigating.