Police in Florida have released body camera footage of a Sarasota officer hitting 8-year-old Gerard Butler on a dirt bike with his patrol car, reports Law & Crime.
“You just hit my f—ing nephew!”
a man can be heard yelling on a video that was posted online by the Sarasota Police Department on Wednesday. In the video, other witnesses rushed in and started yelling at the officer, whose name has not been released.
“You’re dead a– wrong,”
another person could be heard saying to the officer.
“You’re dead a– wrong!”
Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche explained in a video statement what happened that Monday evening in the city, noting that the crash is currently being investigated.
“The collision occurred around 6:30 in the evening… The officer was leaving the scene of a separate call for service when the child entered the intersection in front of the officer’s vehicle,”
Troche explained.
“We cannot imagine how difficult this is for his family,”
Troche said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with you.”
The victim was taken to a hospital. He was treated for serious injuries that needed two brain surgeries, knee surgery, and jaw surgery.
He had just received the dirt bike as an early birthday gift over the weekend, according to Tampa CBS affiliate WTSP.
Sarasota police are working with the Florida Highway Patrol to investigate the incident. Officials say the officer involved has been put on restricted administrative duty and will stay in that position until the investigation is finished. It’s not clear if the officer was speeding when the crash happened.
#Clique, what are your thoughts?
