North Carolina resource officer fired after video shows him slam, drag middle school student

A North Carolina school resource officer was fired days after school surveillance video showed him violently slamming a middle school student to the ground twice before dragging him off-camera.

Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame confirmed to WTVD on Monday that the unnamed deputy had been fired "effective immediately."

The deputy was previously on paid administrative leave, WSOC-TV reported.

In the video, the student, who officials said is younger than 12, can be seen walking in the hallway at Vance County Middle School when an officer stops, lifts the boy against a wall, flips him head-down, then slams him to the ground.

The officer then drags the child and drops him again.

“We went over and when we first saw the video, we were stunned, we were shocked,” Brame said.

School district officials reported the officer to authorities Thursday. Brame said he asked the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation to probe the situation at the school, which is about 45 miles north of Raleigh.

“I was stunned and shocked because I have eight grandchildren, four between the ages of 8 and 13,” Brame said Friday. “To see a child that small reminded me of one of my grandchildren.”

The boy's father said his son is recovering at home, WSOC reported.

Vance County District Attorney Mike Waters said the extent of the boy's injuries could determine potential charges.

Authorities have not made the officer’s name public. Brame said the officer has worked for the Sheriff’s Office for two years.

A news release from Vance County Schools said student safety is of “utmost importance” to the district. It added that it was “deeply concerned” by the officer's actions.

The Sheriff’s Office has two resource officers assigned to the middle school. Brame said other deputies are filling in for the one who was fired.

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