NewsState

Actions

BSO school resource deputy arrested on child abuse charge

Video shows him slamming child to ground
wptv-child-slammed-by-bso-.jpg
wptv-child-slammed-to-ground-bso-.jpg
Posted at 11:49 AM, Nov 05, 2019
and last updated 2019-11-05 11:49:33-05

A school resource deputy with the Broward Sheriff’s Office has been arrested on a child abuse charge after he was caught on surveillance video slamming a student to the ground.

Deputy Willard Miller, who worked at Cross Creek School in Pompano Beach, was arrested on a felony charge of child abuse without great bodily harm, Sheriff Gregory Tony announced at a news conference Tuesday morning.

Tony released surveillance camera footage that showed the deputy grabbing the 15-year-old girl by the neck and throwing her to the ground in a room at the school back on Sept. 25.

There was no audio on the video and Tony said he didn't know why the student was in the room or what happened before Miller slammed the girl to the ground.

"The way the deputy responds, for whatever occurred, whatever type of verbal dialogue was going on, it makes no sense and it wasn't necessary," Tony said.

Willard, 38, has been with BSO since August 2016 and was assigned to the school in February 2018. He has suspended without pay until the investigation is concluded.

Story from our news partner NBC 6