Police release footage of the moment a cop grabbed a female officer by the throat
A Florida police officer is under investigation after he was caught on video grabbing a fellow officer by the throat.
Sergeant Christopher Pullease of the Sunrise Police Department was caught on bodycam footage attacking the 28-year-old officer after she tried to pull him away from a handcuffed suspect. The incident took place outside a convenience store on November 19.
The incident took place when Pullease and several other officers were arresting a man for aggravated battery after he had hit people outside the Shop & Save convenience store. Body camera footage, released just last week, showed Pullease walking up to the suspect as officers were attempting to get him into the police car. He then allegedly leaned into the car, pulled out his pepper spray, and aimed it at the suspect as he spoke to him.
The female officer ran over and tugged on Pullease’s belt in an attempt to get him away from the suspect. The footage then shows Pullease turning around, grabbing her neck, and shoving her against another patrol car. The video does not include audio.
Sunrise Police Chief Anthony Rosa described Pullease’s behaviour as “disgusting”, and said that he escalated what should have been an otherwise calm situation. He added, “I find it to be inappropriate and unprofessional, because what he did is he escalated the situation when calm was actually required.”
Rosa went on to praise the female officer, who has only been with the department for two and a half years, for stepping in. He said, “I’m very proud of this police officer. She took some definitive action. I can only imagine what she must be feeling. She’s a newer officer, and he’s a very senior sergeant.”
Pullease has been assigned to desk work amid an ongoing investigation, and no charges have yet been filed against him.
Image: Sunrise Police Department