Lawyer: Deputy Who Threw Teen Acted 'Professionally'

Her lawyer says she's in a cast
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 29, 2015 10:12 AM CDT
Lawyer: Deputy Who Threw Teen Acted 'Professionally'
This undated photo provided by the Richland County Sheriff's Department shows school resource officer Senior Deputy Ben Fields.   (S.C.) Sheriff's Department via AP)

A police officer in Columbia, SC, who's faced previous accusations of excessive force and racial bias was on Wednesday fired after the violent arrest of a student at Spring Valley High School. Now, new details are emerging about the African-American student Fields allegedly threw across the classroom. The 16-year-old's lawyers tell the New York Daily News that she's living in foster care, and her foster mom is horrified by the footage that went viral on Monday. He adds she suffered "neck and back problems," a bruise to the head, and is wearing a cast on her arm, reports WLTX. However, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott previously said "she was not injured," except for a possible "rug burn," per CNN.

Lott says the student was "very disruptive, very disrespectful" in "not allowing the teacher to teach," but praises the students who filmed her arrest and encourages others to do the same to help "police the police." Lott adds three videos of the incident have now surfaced, including one in which the student "pops the officer with her fist" when he initially touches her. In a statement, Fields' lawyer says the officer's "actions were justified and lawful throughout the circumstances of which he was confronted during this incident." He acted "professionally and … was performing his job duties within the legal threshold," the lawyer adds, then thanks people for their "heartfelt support." (Click for the more on the case.)

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