Tampa police officer loses job after dragging girl into jail

TAMPA — Tampa police fired one in all their officers on Tuesday after he was recorded dragging a handcuffed girl throughout the bottom right into a Hillsborough County jail reservation room.

An investigation discovered that Officer Gregory Damon violated a number of departmental insurance policies within the November 17 incident.

It occurred after he and different officers had been known as to the Tampa Household Well being Heart at 4620 N twenty second St. within the Belmont Heights neighborhood early that morning. Folks on the clinic reported that the girl was sleeping exterior the constructing and refusing to depart the power.

Police mentioned the identical girl had beforehand been advised to avoid the power. She was arrested on trespassing fees.

When Damon arrived at Orient Highway Jail together with her, the girl refused to get out of the again of the patrol SUV, police mentioned.

A body-worn digital camera video launched by police on Tuesday captured his interplay with the girl.

“I will drag you out of this automotive,” he advised her.

“I need you to pull me,” she mentioned.

The video exhibits officers grabbing her arm and pulling her out of the automotive, traversing an extended concrete flooring towards an indication studying “Seek for Arrested Individuals” past the doorway to the central reservation room. It exhibits find out how to transfer her with The girl speaks defiantly and beats the police all the way in which.

As he dragged her away, the officer stopped and advised the girl to face up.

Damon continued to pull her to the door.

Tampa Police didn’t identify the girl in a information launch concerning the incident. The addresses she listed are amenities in Tampa that serve homeless folks. She was taken to jail at 10:19 am that day for trespassing. Her appointment word exhibits she was launched to a psychological well being facility just a few days later. Prison fees towards her proceed to be filed.

A jail supervisor run by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Workplace reported the incident to the Tampa Police Division. The following day, an investigation was launched by the Workplace of Skilled Requirements. Damon was relieved of responsibility whereas the investigation was ongoing.

The division’s coverage on coping with uncooperative detainees in prisons states that officers ought to search help from jail reservations employees. A jail agent can assist officers elevate the particular person right into a restraint chair and transport him to jail.

Police mentioned they fine-tuned their coverage after the same incident in 2013, including language that it was inappropriate to pull out uncooperative people.

In a information launch, police mentioned the girl used vulgar and obscene language towards officers, whereas Damon additionally made impolite and derogatory feedback towards her. It contained guidelines coping with the etiquette of

Investigators reviewed the officers’ physique digital camera footage and surveillance video from the jail, and interviewed Damon, however discovered no clear justification for coverage violations.

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The investigation ended Tuesday with a call to fireside Damon. He has been working as a Patrol Officer since 2016.