Viral Ybor City Arrest Video Under Investigation By Tampa Police: Reports

TAMPA, FL — A viral Ybor City arrest video of an officer with the Tampa Police Department body slamming a man on the street prompted an internal investigation by the department, according to multiple reports.

In the video of the May 15 incident, which was posted to TikTok early the next morning and then shared widely across social media, Jeffrey Brownfield, Jr., 22, is seen confronting three officers outside Tangra Nightclub, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

The video shows him removing his shirt and throwing it to the ground, and yelling at the officers while waving both middle fingers at them. (Watch the video here.)

One of the officers is then seen coming at Brownfield from behind, wrapping his arm around the man’s neck and slamming him to the ground.

EJ Simmons, who filmed the viral video, told WTSP that before the body slam, police had restrained Brownfield in handcuffs and then released him before the situation escalated.

"They let him go. He took his shirt off. He got mad, slammed it on the ground," Simmons said. "And as they tried to push him out of the way of the road, it seemed like he was trying to fight back. But then when he put his hands up toward the officer... that's when he got slammed."

Police Chief Lee Bercaw told WTSP that the video “raises concern,” adding, "But I have also seen other video that lays more into it, so we have to do a deep dive investigation into that and that's why we're reviewing everything."

Brownfield, who was charged with disorderly conduct, is represented by attorneys Nicole Sanchez and Tyler Vaughn, WFLA said.

“He’s shaken up, certainly,” Sanchez told the news outlet. “He’s physically rattled. He’s mentally rattled, but he’s hanging in there.”

See Also:

• Man Who Drove Stolen Car Into St. Pete Home Sought By Police
• Clearwater Man Arrested In Fatal Shooting At Pinellas Park Business: Sheriff
• Woman Whose Body Washed Ashore In South FL Identified: Reports
• St. Pete Rapper Arrested In Pasco County After Fleeing Traffic Stop: Watch
• Charges Dropped Against St. Pete Garbage Truck Driver In Fatal Alley Crash