Richland, S.C., Senior Deputy Ben Fields was fired following the violent arrest of a young Black girl, Sheriff Leon Lott announced in a press conference yesterday morning.
On Monday, the 16-year-old student at Spring Valley High School in Columbia refused to put her cell phone away when asked by her teacher. She was then asked to leave the classroom and refused once again, insisting she had done nothing wrong. Fields, 34, resorted to drastic measures and flipped the student over while she was still sitting in her desk. He then dragged her out of her chair across the room and pinned her to the ground.
Initially, Fields was suspended without pay.
