UPDATE: Ben Fields will be fired from his job, and that news is expected to be announced during a press conference today, according to NBC News. Leon Lott, the Richland County sheriff, is expected to provide insight about an impending investigation into the incident, in which Senior Deputy Ben Fields violently assaulted a teenage student at Spring Valley High School for reasons still unbeknownst to the general public.
ORIGINAL STORY: Early this week, disturbing video was circulated around the internet of a police officer, Deputy Ben Fields, repeatedly hitting and dragging a female high school student in a classroom, reportedly because she refused to follow an order. The force used, which included slamming the student from out of her chair onto the ground, was so excessive that no matter what insubordination may have occurred on behalf of the pupil, Fields would not be able to justify his actions, regardless of what any CNN anchor has to say.
Apparently, the Spring Valley police force agrees with that sentiment, as Fields has been arrested without pay as of yesterday evening. The investigation into his actions, and the reasoning behind it continues, and the Associated Press is reporting that there is an alleged new video that shows the student using physical force against the officer, but that will undoubtedly be a moot point. Fields did not follow protocol, and chances are, there will be further legal action taken, especially considering this isn’t the first time he’s been in this type of hot water.
