DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. – Video making the rounds on social media shows a Broward Sheriff’s Office deputy striking a young cyclist in Deerfield Beach.
A group of people took off from a Tri-Rail station at around 3 p.m. Monday, but they said deputies were following them as they left.
6 p.m. report:
Cell phone video posted to Only in Broward captured a takedown by deputies with BSO’s Deerfield Beach district.
It shows a deputy in an unmarked cruiser striking the cyclist as the SUV hits the back wheel of the bike. It shows the teen continuing to try and run away with his mangled bike stuck underneath the vehicle.
That’s when he’s then tackled to the ground by the undercover deputy. The teen is heard yelling “stop” as he is placed into handcuffs.
A BSO spokesperson said the deputy made contact while trying to maneuver around other cyclists.
Shacter Wilson, who said he was riding with the group, told Local 10 News that they were participating in what they called a “ride out” organized on social media.
“The goal was to ride around Deerfield Beach on the last day of spring break,” Wilson said. “There (were) a few cops behind us but they weren’t creating an issue. Then he ran over the kid.”
A BSO spokesperson said the teens were riding recklessly, running red lights, blocking intersections and causing a significant disruption, becoming a danger to themselves and others. The agency additionally shared a video with bike safety tips.
The teen was taken into custody and taken to the hospital as a precaution and later released with a civil citation.
Several other cyclists were cited and released as well.