A Florida corrections officer has been placed on leave after grappling with a teen inmate at a juvenile center, according to TMZ.
Terrence Devon Reed, 17, was hospitalized after Sarasota County Deputy Neil Pizzo approached him as he sat on a bench with his arms tucked underneath a t-shirt, according to video footage of the incident.
Reed stands up and takes his arms out from under the garment before Pizzo lunges at his throat and begins tussling with him on the ground.
Pizzo can be seen raining blows down on the writhing teen before another officer enters the frame and holds him down to apply handcuffs.
Several more officers arrive before Reed – whose t-shirt was torn during the struggle – is removed from the holding room.
Reed had been placed under arrest for cocaine possession, probation violations and contempt of court before the incident and was being uncooperative with a police lineup.
Sheriff Tom Knight said that Pizzo did not sufficiently de-escalate the situation and that he was being placed on administrative duty pending an internal probe.
