ATLANTA, GEORGIA: Georgia police chief Brad Gober was placed on paid leave by the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) after being seen on video bodyslamming a student while making an arrest.
The youngster was allegedly knocked to the ground by DCSD Police Chief Gober on September 1 after he appeared to avoid another officer's attempt to seize his arm, per the viral footage.
The DeKalb County School District reported that they are looking into the incident and are aware of the video displaying police chief Gober detaining a 17-year-old student at Redan High School.
As the inquiry continues, the district stated they cannot provide any more details, but they did add that they'll "responsibly address this matter in the best interests of the community and our students."
Brad Gober allegedly slammed a student to the ground
The student is seen escaping from the police in a clip aired by Atlanta-based station WSB-TV before Gober pulls him up and partially flips him over to force him to the ground. The broadcaster claimed there was more unreleased material and that they had only gotten a part of it.
According to sources, Gober first intervened in a major fight that had taken place close to the front office but had not been captured on camera. He advised the student not to get involved or he would be imprisoned, as per Daily Mail.
Gober apparently struggled with another officer to handcuff the teenager. He spent more than three days in jail before being released.
According to DeKalb County Jail booking records, the youngster was accused of obstructing law enforcement authorities and disrupting a public school.
According to warrants, there was a fight between the officer and the student on August 31 at 2:00 p.m. Records claim that the adolescent shoved an officer as he was apprehending a girl.
The teenager apparently witnessed an adult woman in handcuffs who also intervened in the altercation as he was escorted to a room in the front office.
The police chief apparently had a verbal exchange with the student before the latter backed up and needed to be forcibly restrained.
How did the student's parents react to the incident?
The student's father, Richard Stephens, said he was unaware of the video or of his son's arrest, claiming he just learned of his son's arrest through his friends.
Stephens told 11Alive, "I was in shock that it was an actual officer, an adult grabbing (my son) and actually slamming him to the ground. (He hurt) his head, shoulder, the whole side - like, he's fragile. What if you would have paralyzed him?"
Stephens stated that he is still unsure of the circumstances surrounding his son's September 1 arrest at Redan High School.
He claimed that the district never informed him of any issues, and online video footage only showed part of the interaction—a cop throwing his son to the ground.
Stephens said that he intended to meet with the superintendent to request that the district make the entire video available. Additionally, he wishes to file charges against the involved police officers.
The teen's mother told FOX 5: "I have not been able to stop crying since I saw that video. All I see is him walking, and someone come up and pick him up under his arms and slam him on the ground."
What did the DeKalb County School District say?
According to a statement given to ABC News by the district, "The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) is aware of a recent video circulating in the media regarding an incident involving DCSD Police Chief Brad Gober."
The statement further added: "In keeping with the standard operating procedure, Chief Gober has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of an internal investigation. This standard procedure ensures a comprehensive and impartial assessment of the incident."
