A North Carolina deputy working in a middle school has been suspended after video footage appeared to show him violently body-slamming a student to the ground, twice.

The Vance County Sheriff has now suspended the deputy who was caught on film violently throwing the middle school pupil onto the floor, before dragging the boy along a corridor.

The incident, which happened last week at Vance County Middle School, 45 miles north of downtown Raleigh, was caught on surveillance camera inside the school.

The deputy has since been placed on paid leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Video from inside Vance County Middle School shows a School Resource officer walking with a student, under the age of 12, along a hallway

The officer suddenly picks up the student and body slams him to the ground

The man then then picks the pupil back up before throwing him to the floor again

The video begins innocently enough with the officer and pupil walking side-by-side when without warning the man picks up the student, flips the child upside down and forcibly throws him to the ground.

As the footage continues to roll, the officer then bends over and picks up the child for a second time and then forcibly slams the youngster head-first to the floor for a second time.

The clip ends as the officer drags the student along the ground by his shirt and walks out of shot.

Parents of students attending the school and the Vance County Sheriff's Office are said to be stunned by the episode.

'We went over and when we first saw the video, we were stunned, we were shocked,' Sheriff Curtis Brame said to WRAL on Friday. 'We all are parents and grandparents that have children at that same age, so it brought some great concern to us.'

The incident happened at Vance County Middle School near Raleigh, North Carolina last week

Next, he picks up the youngster and drags him down the corridor by his shirt

'I have eight grandchildren, four between the ages of eight and 13,' Brame said. 'To see a child that small reminded me of one of my grandchildren.'

Brame has brought in the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation to conduct the probe.

'This is a use-of-force case,' said Mike Waters, the District Attorney in Vance County. 'I've been able to assure the family that this investigation is being conducted appropriately.'

The Resource Officer is now on paid administrative leave while an investigation takes place.

The entire incident was all caught on the school's surveillance camera

'We went over and when we first saw the video, we were stunned, we were shocked,' Sheriff Curtis Brame, pictured, said

So far, there has been no explanation as to why the man reacted the way he did or what the child may have said or done leading up to the body slams.

The officer had worked for the department for two years with no prior incidents.

School leaders issued a statement on Friday: 'We are aware of the incident that occurred at Vance County Middle School involving a school resource officer.

'We are deeply concerned by the actions that took place. School and district officials are working closely and in full cooperation with the local authorities to address this matter consistent with school board policy and state laws.'

The boy's father said the child is at home recovering. The youngster, who is under the age of 12, was said to have a bump on his head but was not taken to hospital.