The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is reviewing online videos that show police officers in physical altercations with fans at Saturday's Georgia-Florida game, held at EverBank Stadium in Florida.
What Happened?
The annual NCAA college football rivalry between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Florida Gators, famously dubbed "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party," saw tensions on Saturday escalate as officers engaged with several spectators in the stands.
The alterations between fans and police were captured on video, and clips that have circulated online reveal intense scenes. In one clip, two officers grapple with two fans as others around them shout for the officers to stop. Another video shows a heated exchange between a man and two officers, culminating in the man being handcuffed, visibly bloodied and subdued with a stun gun.
While the footage captures the confrontations' escalation, the events leading up to these incidents remain unclear.
What Police Are Saying
In response, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office stated that its Professional Standards Division is actively reviewing the videos.
"The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office's Professional Standards Division is aware of the videos circulating from the Georgia-Florida football game. Administrative reviews of the incidents are being opened. As such, the agency will not comment until all facts are known and the reviews have been completed," the office said.
The Sheriff's Office has withheld further comments pending the review's outcome, leaving many awaiting answers on the officers' actions during one of college football's most anticipated rivalries.
In addition, Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said she has spoken to Sheriff T.K. Waters regarding the altercations, and she addressed the situation on social media, expressing concern over the footage.
"I'm aware of several disturbing videos circulating from (Saturday's) game," Deegan posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday. "We are awaiting the outcome of that investigation."
Her remarks underscore the heightened community interest in police accountability in the wake of these confrontations.
Violence at Football Games
This is not the first time violence has recently occurred that was related to football.
In September, two people died following a shooting at a popular tailgating spot near Ford Field after the Detroit Lions' football game.
The incident unfolded on September 15 at Eastern Market, a well-known open-air venue that attracts tailgaters during football season. The clash, which followed the Lions' narrow 20-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, quickly escalated when one individual pulled a gun and fired at least two shots, Detroit Police Chief James White said at a press conference.
Police officers in the area responded to the shooting, arrested the suspected shooter, an Oak Park resident, and recovered two handguns at the scene, White said.
The victims, both Detroit residents, were identified as a man in his 40s and another in his 20s.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
Related Articles