Moment Florida cop grabs female officer by the throat and shoves her into patrol car after she tried to pull him off a suspect
- Authorities in Sunrise, Florida shared body camera footage of an incident that took place November 19
- Everyone in the video had their face blurred except for Sergeant Christopher Pullease, 46, a 21-year veteran of the force
- Pullease got into a verbal altercation with the suspect, who was already sitting inside a police car
- A fellow officer – who has not been identified but has been on the force two and a half years – ran toward Pullease and pulled him by the back of his duty belt
- Pullease turns around while backpedaling as he was pulled, then momentarily putting his hand at the other officer’s throat and pushing her backward
- Pullease has been taken off his supervisory duties since the incident. Internal affairs is investigating
A police sergeant in Florida has been demoted to desk work after he was seen on video grabbing a fellow officer by her throat.
Authorities in Sunrise, Florida shared body camera footage of an incident that took place November 19.
Everyone in the video had their face blurred except for Sergeant Christopher Pullease, 46, a 21-year veteran of the force.
Sunrise police were detaining a suspect who was ‘verbally and physically resistive’ when Pullease came on the scene and got aggressive, Chief Anthony Rosa said in a statement.
Pullease then got into a verbal altercation with the suspect, who was already sitting inside a police car.
Sergeant Christopher Pullease (pictured right) has been put on desk duty and removed of his supervisory responsibilities after he was filmed grabbing an officer by her throat
The situation began when Pullease approached a detained suspect with pepper spray. His supervisor, Police Chief Anthony Rosa, said that Pullease unnecessarily escalated the situation
The other officer approaches Pullease from behind and pulled him by the back of his duty belt, in line with the department’s policies according to Rosa
Video shows Pullease turn around while backpedaling as he was pulled, then momentarily putting his hand at the other officer’s throat and pushing her backward until she hits a nearby police car. Pullease then walks away
Body camera footage shows Pullease ducking his head inside the car to talk to the suspect while holding a can of pepper spray.
Rosa said that Pullease was ‘inappropriate and unprofessional’ in the situation and added that he ‘unnecessarily elevated the demeanor of the suspect.’
A fellow officer – who has not been identified but has been on the force two and a half years – ran toward Pullease and pulled him by the back of his duty belt.
Video shows Pullease turn around while backpedaling as he was pulled, then momentarily putting his hand at the other officer’s throat and pushing her backward until she hits a nearby police car. Pullease then walks away.
According to Rosa, the second officer was following Sunrise police’s own policies and procedures for a situation where there’s ‘imminent fear of engagements escalating’ between officers and suspects.
Police Chief Anthony Rosa (pictured) said that Pullease was ‘inappropriate and unprofessional’ in the situation and added that he ‘unnecessarily elevated the demeanor of the suspect’
Chief Anthony Rosa (right) with Sgt. Christopher Pullease when he was receiving an award in 2019
Pullease has been serving with the Sunrise Police Department for the past 21 years and has two investigations for excessive force, though he was cleared both times
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has cited a need for new police officers, even saying that he will pay unvaccinated police officers from other states $5,000 if they relocate to the Sunshine State to work, as cops across the U.S. continue to leave their posts in droves over COVID vaccine mandates.
‘We’re actually actively working to recruit out-of-state law enforcement, because we do have needs in our police and our sheriff’s departments,’ the governor told Fox News in October.
‘In the next legislative session, I’m going to hopefully sign legislation that gives a $5,000 bonus to any out-of-state law enforcement that relocates in Florida,’ he told the network’s Sunday Morning Futures program.
Pullease has been taken off his supervisory duties since the incident. Internal affairs is investigating, with Rosa calling his behavior ‘disgusting.’
He has no contact or supervision over subordinate personnel, according to Rosa.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has cited a need for new police officers, even saying that he will pay unvaccinated police officers from other states $5,000 if they relocate to the Sunshine State to work
‘I am very proud of the officer involved in this incident and believe that the actions taken were definitive and demonstrative of good leadership during a tense situation,’ Rosa said.
He noted that Sunrise officers are told to ‘de-escalate emotionally charged situations’ and intervene if one of their own appears to lose control or display inappropriate conduct in interacting with the public.
In an interview with local TV station, Rosa was asked why Pullease hasn’t already been charged in the three months since the incident, with a reporter pointing out that any civilian who put their hands on an officer’s throat would face charges.
‘So there’s some details of the investigation that I’ve not disclosed, that I’m unable to disclose right now, and if any of the information that comes up during the investigation rises to a level of criminal behavior or criminal conduct, then we’ll address it appropriately,’ Rosa responded.
A WSVN investigation into Pullease said that he had been investigated twice for excessive use of force in his two decades on the job, but had been cleared both times.
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