UPDATED at 7:15 p.m. ET with additional details

The FBI says a South Carolina sheriff's deputy officer who manhandled a teen while arresting her in school is being investigated for possible civil rights violations, according to a statement released Tuesday. The officer has also been suspended without pay and a decision on his future employment is expected in the next 24 hours.

Video of Deputy Ben Fields flipping a black, female student out of her desk and onto the floor in her Spring Valley High School on Monday spread like wildfire, igniting outrage across the country at the use of force against the student.

Richmond County Sheriff Leon Lott said in a statement that he had spoken with the FBI and U.S. Attorney William Nettles who began an investigation Tuesday.

"I have also consulted with Solicitor Dan Johnson and he agrees that the criminal investigation will be best served with the FBI as the lead agency. We do not want any issues with the community or those involved having questions concerning conflicts of interest in this investigation," Lott said. "A complete and thorough investigation is what we both want, as well as the public."

According to a statement from the FBI's Columbia Field Office, a civil rights investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding the arrest.

FBI, US Attorney's Office now investigating Spring Valley School Resource Officer's use of force. #News19 pic.twitter.com/lLO8wRoaQl — Scott Cooke (@cookescott) October 27, 2015

As the investigation unfolds, questions are now being raised about Ben Fields, the officer at the center of the controversial encounter. Fields works as a resource officer in the school, and Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott told local media that the incident began when the student, whose teacher reported she was being disruptive, refused to leave the classroom.

On Tuesday afternoon, Lott said the student "bears some responsibility" and added, "If she had not disrupted the school and disrupted that class, we would not be standing here today. So it started with her and it ended with my officer. What I'm going to deal with is what my deputy did... "Just because she was wrong in what she was doing doesn't make what he was doing completely right also."

After the student refused an administrator's request to leave, Fields was called to the classroom where he was caught on video wrenching the teen from her chair before placing her on the floor and handcuffing her.

Fields has been accused of excessive force and targeting black suspects before, and was sued in 2013. A student expelled from the school accused the deputy, who is white, of unfairly targeting black students. That case is set to go to trial in January.

In 2010, federal court records show a jury sided with Fields after a black couple accused Fields of excessive force and battery during a 2005 noise complaint arrest in Columbia.

In a third lawsuit, a woman accused Fields and another deputy of battery during a 2006 arrest. That case was dismissed in 2009.

2014 lawsuit against Officer Ben Fields stating he unfairly targets Black students & parents https://t.co/IY428UU2i4 pic.twitter.com/xe9xcLx2pr — Shaun King (@ShaunKing) October 26, 2015

A second black, female student who recorded footage of the incident was also arrested, according to local news outlet WLTX.

Niya Kenny, 18, said she was taken into custody by the same officer and charged with "disturbing school."

"I was screaming 'What the f, what the f is this really happening?' I was praying out loud for the girl," says Kenny. "I just couldn't believe this was happening I was just crying and he said, since you have so much to say you are coming too. I just put my hands behind my back."

After video of the incident emerged on Monday, the backlash was swift and fierce.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and actress Kerry Washington were some of the thousands who weighed in on the footage, which she called "heart breaking" and "ridiculous." The hashtag #AssaultAtSpringValleyHigh was trending in the U.S. on Tuesday afternoon.

There is no excuse for violence inside a school. The #AssaultAtSpringValleyHigh is unacceptable—schools should be safe places. -H — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 27, 2015

The district as well as the state took immediate steps to investigate the situation.

“These videos and what they appear to show should concern all of us in public education,” said South Carolina Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman in a statement released Tuesday. While it is vital that students have respect for law enforcement, it is equally important that law enforcement ensure they do not abuse the power and trust school districts instill in them.

Journalist Shaun King said he has spoken to the unnamed girl's family and that she has been released but is "severely traumatized" by the violent incident.

I spoke to family of the assaulted student at Spring Valley High School. She was injured. She is out of jail. She is severely traumatized. — Shaun King (@ShaunKing) October 27, 2015

Additional reporting by the Associated Press and Mashable's Marcus Gilmer.

