A Florida County Sheriff’s deputy and school resource officer who slammed a Black teenage student to the ground earlier this year won’t face criminal charges, State Attorney Monique Worrell announced on Tuesday, Aug. 17 according to Click Orlando 6. A video captured a 6-year-old Liberty High School student Taylor Bracey was slammed to the ground by deputy Ethan Fournier on Jan. 26.

The teen was left unconscious when her head hit the concrete after Fournier slammed her down. Authorities claim Fournier was attempting to stop Bracey from fighting another student.

The teen’s mother, Jamesha Bracey said her daughter suffered from sleeping problems and memory loss after the incident. Fournier was placed on administrative leave after the incident.  Worrell called the deputy’s actions disturbing, however, said what he did was not illegal. “Although Officer Fournier’s actions were legal by Florida law, as a parent and member of this community, when I watch this video, like many of you, I was angry and concerned for the safety and wellbeing of my children, and all children,” she said, News 13 reported.

Taylor is still feeling the repercussions from Fournier’s actions and likely will for the rest of her life. This disgusting incident certainly sends a message to our young people of color – police officers should not be trusted and ‘protect and serve’ is nothing more than a meaningless slogan. While the state attorney has failed to get justice for Taylor, we won’t stop until we do.”

Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez defended Fournier’s actions stating, “Once the officer or the deputy decides we’re no longer in control of the situation, he’s gonna resort to the tactics that he’s trained by.” He added, “They’re not always gonna look pretty, but this was the best way to maintain control of that situation.”

Read more:

The Black Panther Party Free Breakfast for School Children

The Negro Motorist Green Book: Black America’s guide through the Jim Crow era

Mississippi Appendectomy: The decades long practice of sterilizing poor black women