Bodycam footage released after viral altercation during the Florida-Georgia football game

More information and bodycam footage was released by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office after several viral videos circulating on social media appeared to show two separate incidents in which sheriff’s deputies used force to detain customers during a football game on Saturday.

On Monday, the sheriff’s office said that while their administrative investigation into the two incidents is ongoing, they have not found any evidence of misconduct by the officers involved.

“In this case, cell phone camera footage circulating since Saturday does not fully capture the circumstances surrounding these incidents,” Sheriff TK Waters said during a news conference Monday afternoon.

“They (officers) handled it professionally even though it looks rough,” Waters added.

A total of eight arrests and 35 deportations was the result of Saturday’s football game between the University of Florida and the University of Georgia, Waters said.

Who was arrested?

Incident 1: Walter Brown

Incident 2: Michael Long, Alexander Long, Brandon Boley

What did bodycam footage show?

1st incident: Walter Brown

The first incident that was part of the sheriff’s office administrative review occurred Saturday around 4:20 p.m. during the game.

Two children are said to have approached a stadium security guard, also known as a SAFE worker, with a request to enter a part of the stadium for which they did have tickets. The SAFE worker told the children to ask their parents and return with a ticket to get in, the sheriff’s office said.

During the interaction between the SAFE employee and the children, Walter Brown, who police identified as the children’s father, arrived and allegedly pushed the SAFE employee, accusing them of kidnapping his children.

Instead of engaging with Brown, the SAFE employee contacted the deputies on duty at the game and reported what had happened.

When officers met with Brown, they informed him that he was being kicked out of the game, to which Brown responded, “No, I’m not.”

Brown is then heard saying on police body camera footage, “Remember when I told you I’m either going to kill a cop or I’m not going to leave.”

Brown is heard making racist comments to an officer several times as they try to escort him from the stand.

Officers resort to tasing Brown to subdue him because he would not comply with their commands.

But even after being hit by several Tasers, Brown continues to struggle with officers and even appears to try to grab an officer’s gun from its holster before officers can finally escort him away.

2nd incident: Alexander and Michael Long, Brandon Boley

In a second and separate incident on Saturday, another video shared on X showed what appeared to be an altercation between deputies and fans during the football game, according to a report from FOX 35 Orlando.

The 15-second video was posted just before 7:00 PM ET and appeared to show an officer repeatedly punching someone in the stands. The person tried to cover their face as they lay down on the aisle steps. In the same video, another officer appeared to punch another person further down the aisle.

Bodycam footage released Monday by the sheriff’s office was able to provide some context for what led to the violent altercation between officers and onlookers.

Before the altercation, a woman who appeared to be attending the match approached one of the officers to let them know there was unrest in the stands.

The officer followed the woman as she pointed to the general area where there appeared to be some commotion.

When officers finally approached the individuals involved, someone who looked like a stadium security officer attempted to remove several men from the game.

When officers wanted to escort the men out, they did not comply.

After a struggle ensued, officers were able to send all three men away without further incident.

All officers involved in both incidents were still on active duty at the time.

Jacksonville mayor responds to viral fight videos

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Keegan released a statement through a spokesperson: “I am aware of several disturbing videos circulating from yesterday’s game. I have spoken with Sheriff Waters and the incidents are under investigation. We are awaiting the outcome of that research.”

A University of Florida spokesperson declined to comment and deferred questions to the sheriff’s office.