Body cam footage released following viral altercations at Florida-Georgia football game

More information and body cam footage was released by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office after several viral videos circulating on social media appeared to show two separate incidents where sheriff’s deputies used force to detain patrons at a football game on Saturday. 

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

"In this case, cell phone camera footage that has been circulating since Saturday does not comprehensively capture the circumstances surrounding these incidents," Sheriff T.K. Waters said during a news conference on Monday afternoon. 

"They (officers) handled it professionally, though it looks rough," Waters added. 

A total of eight arrests and 35 ejections resulted from Saturday’s University of Florida v. University of Georgia football game, Waters said.  

Who was arrested? 

Incident 1: Walter Brown 

Incident 2: Michael Long, Alexander Long, Brandon Boley

What did body cam footage show?

1st incident: Walter Brown

The first incident that was part of the sheriff’s office administrative review took place at about 4:20 p.m. on Saturday during the game. 

Two children allegedly approached a stadium security officer, also known as a SAFE worker, asking to enter a section of the stadium that they did have tickets for. The SAFE worker told the children that they should ask their parents and come back with a ticket to enter, according to the sheriff’s office. 

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

Rather than engaging with Brown, the SAFE worker contacted sheriff’s deputies who were on duty at the game and reported what happened. 

When officers met with Brown, they notified him that he was being ejected from the game, to which Brown responded, "No I’m not." 

Brown is then heard saying on police body cam footage, "You remember I told you, I’m either going to kill a cop or not leave." 

Brown is heard using racial slurs toward an officer several times as they attempt to escort him from the stands. 

Officers resort to tasing Brown in order to subdue him as he would not comply with their orders. 

However, even after getting hit by several Tasers, Brown continues to struggle with officers and even appears to attempt to take an officer’s gun from the holster before officers are finally able to 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 sheriff’s deputies and fans during the football game, according to a FOX 35 Orlando report. 

The 15-second video was posted just before 7 p.m. ET and appeared to show an officer repeatedly punching someone in the stands. The person attempted to cover their face as they laid down on the aisle steps. In the same video, another officer appeared to be hitting another person further down the aisle. 

Body cam footage released by the sheriff’s office on Monday was able to provide some context to what led up to the violent altercation between officers and game spectators.

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

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

When officers finally approached the subjects in question, someone who appeared to look like a stadium security official was attempting to eject several men from the game. 

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

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

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

Jacksonville Mayor responds to viral fight videos

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Keegan issued a statement via a spokesperson: "I’m aware of several disturbing videos circulating from yesterday’s game. I have spoken to Sheriff Waters and the incidents are under investigation. We are awaiting the outcome of that investigation." 

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