On Wednesday, St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara said that an incident in which a deputy lifted a middle-school student in the air and body-slammed him did not constitute excessive force, reports WXYZ News.

The incident, which occurred on Tuesday in Fort Pierce, Florida, was captured in a 15-second viral video. The student had apparently been suspended and was waiting for his parents to pick him up when he attempted to walk out of the school, at which point the officer accosted him and the struggle ensued.

ADVERTISEMENT

Watch below:

Viral Video CROSSING THE LINE? | This viral video of a deputy taking down a St. Lucie County student is drawing the rounds on the internet and raising concern among parents.Read the Sheriff's response here –> https://bit.ly/2U9eDRF 由 WPTV 发布于 2019年4月10日周三

The student was reportedly arrested five days prior to the incident and is currently in Diversion Program for allegedly behaving violently toward staff and fellow students.