Officers ‘acted within policy’ during fights with fans during the game

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office says officers “acted within policy to protect themselves and nearby fans” during two altercations caught on camera during The Florida-Georgia game on Saturday at EverBank Stadium.

Jacksonville Sheriff TK Waters has released body camera footage and details about two fights that resulted in viral videos of the rivalry game nicknamed “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.”

“In the first incident, the suspect was asked to leave multiple times and threatened officers who attempted to remove him,” the sheriff’s office said Monday after an investigation. “The suspect later grabbed an officer’s firearm. In the second incident, three suspects were asked to leave due to aggressive behavior towards other fans. They then became combative with officers, with one individual grabbing an officer’s face and holding his duty belt.”

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan called the videos “disturbing.”

“Although the use of force may appear intense, our investigation determined that the officers in both incidents acted within policy to protect themselves and nearby fans,” the sheriff’s office said.

___

Receive poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 all season long. Sign up here. AP college football: And