Christopher Pullease: Florida cop chokes female officer after she pulls him off Black suspect
A veteran police officer from Sunrise, Florida has been demoted after he grabbed a female colleague by throat in public and also shoved her. Sergeant Christopher Pullease, a 21-year-veteran with the Sunrise Police Department, lashed out at a female officer who tried to restrain him from getting too aggressive with a Black suspect. Bodycam footage of the incident has been released by the Sunrise police, where Pullease can be seen shoving the unnamed woman officer, before grabbing her by the throat with full force.
The 46-year-old officer reportedly wanted to pepper spray the suspect who was being "verbally and physically resistive". As he leaned near him armed with a pepper spray can in his hand, the fellow female officer intervened to stop Pullease. He immediately turned around and channeled his aggression toward the woman cop as he shoved her until she hit a police car nearby. He can be seen walking away soon after the sudden assault. Sunrise police chief Anthony later confirmed that Pullease behaved in an "inappropriate and unprofessional" manner, also adding that he "unnecessarily elevated the demeanor of the suspect." The incident took place around three months ago and the press brief on the same was held recently.
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Florida @SunrisePoliceFL Sgt. Christopher Pullease caught on video grabbing young officer by the throat after she stops him from pepper spraying handcuffed suspect #BecauseFlorida: https://t.co/VcghOOtoJMpic.twitter.com/RIP9Ybvxss
— Billy Corben (@BillyCorben) January 14, 2022
In a public statement, Chief Anthony Rosa explained how the attacked female officer was following due principles and procedures meant for restraining police officers when there is an "imminent fear of engagements escalating" between cops and suspects.
The woman officer, who has been on the force for over two years, was not identified and her face was blurred in the bodycam footage. In the video, she can be seen running toward Pullease and pulling him by the back of his duty belt, when he had ducked inside the car to threaten the suspect with a pepper spray. Pullease immediately turned out and lashes out at his colleague with full force. Present, the Sunrise police is conducting an internal investigation into the matter and taking appropriate measures against Pullease.
Chief Rosa dubbed his action "disgusting" and noted that the accused officer has been removed from supervisory duties. "I am very proud of the officer involved in this incident and believe that the actions taken were definitive and demonstrative of good leadership during a tense situation," Rosa added.
In the case of Pullease, the veteran officer has had a track record of excessive use of force. In fact, he has been investigated twice before on the same allegations but was cleared both times, allowing him to continue his duty.
Sharing more about the incident, Chief Rosa told, "So there's some details of the investigation that I've not disclosed, that I'm unable to disclose right now, and if any of the information that comes up during the investigation rises to a level of criminal behavior or criminal conduct, then we'll address it appropriately."
