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US police officer filmed grabbing teenager by the throat at school

The father of the student plans to press charges against the police officer

Charlie Atkin
Monday 12 October 2015 10:48 BST
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US police officer grabs student's neck

A student's father plans to press charges against a police officer, who was caught on video grabbing his son's neck and then slamming him to the floor.

Gyasi Hughes had been fighting with a fellow student at Round Rock High School in Texas over a pair of prescription sports goggles. Two school resource officers then attempted to de-escalate the situation before one of them forced the student to the floor.

(Youtube)

Hughes told regional news station KXAN that the officer had used excessive physical force throughout their altercation.

"As I was walking away the officer was pushing me in the back and I was like, ‘Why are you pushing me? I’m not doing anything, I’m walking away like you told me to,’” he told KXAN.

The student said that he asked the officer to 'leave him alone' before being slammed to the floor.

Round Rock issued a statement detailing the incident, suggesting that Hughes had to be detained for his own safety as well as that of others.

"One male student refused to comply with an administrator and was attempting to continue to fight the other student," the statement said.

"The student refused to calm down and was attempting to get past the SROs to the location of the other student to continue with the altercation. After repeated attempts to calm the non-compliant student, and stop him from going after the other student, officers were forced to detain him for his safety and the safety of others.

"The student later calmed down and was released from detention at Round Rock High School with no criminal charges filed at this time. This incident is currently under review by the police department staff."

Gyasi's father, Kashka Hughes also spoke to KXAN, indicating that he plans to press charges against the officer for use of excessive force.

“[The officer] should have been trained well enough to know that this is a 130-pound child and that the action that was taken was totally unnecessary,” the father suggested.

After the incident Gyasi Hughes was punished with a suspension lasting until Tuesday, as well as two Saturday detentions.

Round Rock High School released a statement saying the incident is being investigated "to make sure proper procedures were followed."

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