A police officer in Jacksonville, Florida, was attacked by a violent mob while responding to reports of gunfire last week, graphic video of the incident revealed.
In the video, the mob is seen attacking the solo policeman from all sides. Several people in the group manage to take the officer to the ground, the footage shows, as someone in the crow yells, “F—k the police!”
While the officer is on the ground, multiple people can be seen repeatedly kicking and punching him.
The officer eventually manages to stand up and get away from the crowd, at which point the individual filming starts running away with the group while laughing and saying, “They beat his a– and I recorded it.”
According to WJAX, Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police President Steve Zona said the responding officer arrived on scene alone because he didn’t want to wait if there was an active shooter in the area.
“Our police officer was actually responding to a report of gunshots, shots being fired,” Zona said. “So, equate that to a potential active shooter situation.”
“Where he got down there to try and get people to disperse, one of the people from the crowd actually attacked our police officer,” Zona continued.
Fox News reported that none of the witnesses to the attack tried to help the officer, but Zona said the actions of the crowd are not a reflection of the Jacksonville community as a whole.
“We have tremendous support here in the community and I don’t think what happened to our police officer is a direct reflection of our community here in Jacksonville, I say it’s a direct reflection of the people there,” the union president said.
“It’s sad no one from this crowd chose to help our officer but we don’t believe that’s a true representation of our community,” he continued. “We know you have our backs and we will continue to run towards danger to keep you safe.”
One arrest has been made in connection with the assault, city police told WJAX.
In April, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the state’s anti-riot bill into law.
“If you look at the breadth of this particular piece of legislation, it is the strongest anti-rioting, pro-law enforcement piece of legislation in the country,” DeSantis said at a press conference, reported by Fox News. “There’s just nothing even close.”
The law provides immunity to individuals who drive through protesters blocking traffic, and increases charges for battery on a police officer during a riot.
