Many people were likely surprised to learn the South Carolina deputy caught on cellphone video slamming a student to the ground last year will not face charges, in part because the students and educators at Spring Valley High School who witnessed the incident firsthand apparently saw something different from outraged viewers.
Some of that outrage was fed by a student's comment that Deputy Ben Fields had a reputation at the Columbia high school as "Officer Slam." The student admitted making up that story. In fact, students at the high school walked out in protest after Fields was fired two days after the incident.
In announcing his decision not to move forward, 5th Circuit solicitor Dan Johnson told the Columbia, S.C., State newspaper that any prosecution was compromised by Fields’ quick firing.
This is from the State. (You can read the full account here.)
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