Agency puts Florida police officer on leave as videos reportedly show him kneeling on man’s neck

ORLANDO —A Florida police force has started an internal investigation after it was tagged in a social media post showing an arrest in which an officer is reportedly seen kneeling on the head and neck of the man being arrested.

The arrest came on May 18, by the Sarasota Police Department of Patrick Carroll, 27, after responding to a domestic battery call.

“After viewing several videos, Chief DiPino immediately initiated a formal Internal Affairs investigation and placed the officer on administrative leave,” reads a post on the Sarasota Police Office Facebook page. “Chief DiPino was disturbed to see an officer kneeling on the head and neck of an individual in the video. While it appears the officer eventually moves his leg to the individual’s back, this tactic is not taught, used or advocated by our agency.”

On June 1, we were tagged on social media showing a portion of a video with Officers arresting an individual on May 18, 2020. After viewing several videos, Chief DiPino immediately initiated an I.A. investigation & placed the officer on admin leave. More @ https://t.co/QRZRpR5xnJ pic.twitter.com/KvyPJaCIDG

— Sarasota Police Department (@SarasotaPD) June 2, 2020

The incident comes amid nationwide protests of the death of George Floyd while in custody of Minneapolis police on May 25. Images of Floyd’s arrest, his neck being knelt on by former Officer Derek Chauvin, now charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd’s death, have fueled days of protests.

Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino put an officer on administrative leave and opened an internal investigation after reviewing multiple videos. https://t.co/0P5DJTM0ac

— Daytona Beach News-Journal (@dbnewsjournal) June 2, 2020

The post said Carroll, who is also black, did not need medical attention or complain of the injuries.

“The Sarasota Police Department has not received any complaints from citizens regarding this video but is taking this incident seriously,” the post reads.

Carroll was charged with possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, battery and resisting a law enforcement officer without violence.