After a series of viral videos sparked accusations of excessive force against Jacksonville deputies at Saturday’s Florida-Georgia football game, Sheriff T.K. Waters addressed the public, defending his officers’ actions and citing threats made by fans. The cellphone videos, widely shared online, show intense clashes between deputies and fans during the annual SEC game, known as “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party,” at EverBank Stadium.
One of the most viewed videos captures deputies engaging with a fan who, according to Waters, threatened to kill officers and made repeated racial slurs. Bodycam footage reportedly shows that before the confrontation escalated, the man attempted to grab an officer’s gun. In another video, a fan appears to be pushed down stadium stairs by a deputy, sparking criticism from bystanders and renewed accusations of police brutality.
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office’s Professional Standards Division conducted an initial review, concluding that no policy violations occurred during the arrests. Sheriff Waters emphasized that cellphone footage does not capture the full context leading to the deputies’ actions. “The cellphone cameras did not capture the events that led up to the arrests,” Waters said, noting that deputies were responding to direct and explicit threats against law enforcement and stadium staff.
Other incidents captured on video included altercations between deputies and fans accused of trespassing and violent behavior, according to authorities. In one case, a fan seated outside his assigned area allegedly refused to comply with deputies’ orders, prompting them to use a taser after he refused to leave and escalated his threats. Altogether, police made eight arrests and ejected 35 fans from the stadium.
Despite official statements, some fans remain unconvinced. Jeremy Williamson, who recorded one video, criticized the police response, calling it “100% wrong.” He said, “there was absolutely no excuse for what [the cops] did,” and noted that the videos have sparked ongoing public debate about appropriate police conduct at large public events.
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