September 7. 2020

Sheriff's Deputy, Neil Pizzo, has been placed on leave in Sarasota, Florida for attacking a 17-year-old boy in custody for a drug dealing offense. Pizzo demanded the teen remove his hands from his pocket and inside his shirt.

The video illustrates the teen placed his hands inside his short sleeved shirt as he was cold in the air conditioned room. When the seated teen refused, Pizzo dashed across the room in a fit of rage and began violently chocking him.

Pizzo stated the teen threatened him. However, the boy was in custody and already searched. Whereas, Pizzo and his fellow officers are armed. How much of a threat could the unarmed teen have presented from all the way across the room. As such Pizzo has been removed from his post pending investigation of the shockingly violent incident.

Just because someone is under arrest, accused of a crime, does not mean you can treat them any old way you want to do. It is a violation of civil rights to attack detainees unprovoked in incidents where they pose no immediate danger to you.

STORY SOURCE

Sarasota deputy placed on leave after struggle with teenage inmate

Published: 11:12 AM EDT September 6, 2020 - Updated: 8:25 PM EDT September 6, 2020 -SARASOTA, Fla. — A Sarasota County Sheriff's Office deputy is on administrative leave after video showed a struggle between him and a teenage inmate.

Surveillance video from Sept. 1 captured Deputy Neil Pizzo, a 46-year-old law enforcement officer with 18 years of experience, in an encounter with the 17-year-old inmate at the corrections facility. Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight told Florida Politics he watched the full video in slow motion and, at the time, said, "We've got a problem."...

https://www.wtsp.com