Officers in Georgia-Florida fan brawls ‘acted within policy’

Officers punching fans during Saturday’s Georgia-Florida game “acted within policy to protect themselves and nearby fans,” the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said.

Two altercations, which can be seen here, took place at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville.

“In the first incident, the suspect was asked multiple times to leave and threatened the officers attempting to remove him,” the sheriff’s office said after a review Monday, per The Associated Press. “The suspect later grabbed one officer’s firearm. In the second incident, three suspects were asked to leave due to aggressive behavior toward other fans. They then became combative with officers, with one individual grabbing an officer’s face and holding onto his service belt.”

According to the report, Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan called the videos “disturbing.”

“While the use of force can appear intense, our investigation determined that the officers in both incidents acted within policy to protect themselves and nearby fans,” the sheriff’s office said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.