Tweet
As a confrontation at a restaurant in Columbia, S.C., quickly spun out of control, a witness began video recording the incident involving an off-duty deputy and a female soldier. The video shows the deputy attempting to arrest the soldier following an argument at the establishment.
However, veteran deputy and former U.S. Marine Paul Derrick, 49, was ultimately arrested and charged with assault after police reviewed the cellphone video and determined the cop acted inappropriately. He has also been placed on leave without pay following the Oct. 7 incident at Buffalo Wild Wings.
It all started when Derrick reportedly approached the female soldier, 23-year-old Brittany Bell from Fort Jackson, who was apparently upset at the time. She reportedly brushed Derrick off and the two began arguing.
Derrick, who was not in uniform, left the restaurant and retrieved his handcuffs, badge and firearm from his vehicle, according to police. Both individuals were reportedly drinking alcohol.
WIS-TV explains how the incident played out:
Derrick overpowered Ball, handcuffed her, pulled her to her feet, and slammed her head into a metal table, the report states. Ball, according to the report, was also drinking alcohol.
In the video, Derrick can be seen trying to force Ball to stand up after cuffing her hands behind her back.
At one point Ball is positioned over a table, and the table collapses.
A police officer who reviewed video of the incident reports hearing Derrick say, “This is how Marines deal with soldiers,” while slamming the woman into the table.
Watch the stunning video below:
wistv.com – Columbia, South Carolina |
It was not immediately clear if the deputy felt he had probable cause to arrest Bell that night.
When management later tried to intervene, as is customary with an unruly patron, Derrick ordered everyone to back away.
The Columbia Police Department eventually responded to the scene. But rather than backing up the deputy, the officers put him in handcuffs after reviewing the cellphone video shot by patron Steven Hughes.
“He watched maybe the first 30 seconds of it. And when he heard the Marine-Army comment he said, ‘Alright, things just changed. Arrest him, 10-37, and release her.’ And that’s when I said, ‘Sir, I know it’s hard, but that’s the right thing,’” Hughes told WIS-TV.
Police will hold a news conference on Wednesday to discuss the incident and possibly release more information.
Comment