Violence erupts in stands at Florida-Georgia game

At least six people are facing charges after violence broke out Saturday at the Georgia-Florida football game.

It‘s unclear what led to the violence, but the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said it is reviewing a series of viral videos that show officers punching people in the stands.

The Sheriff’s Office said the agency will not comment until all facts are known and the reviews have been completed.

It appears the people involved face charges including battery, resisting an officer with violence and disorderly conduct. It’s unclear if all of those charged were part of the viral videos.

News4Jax, a Jacksonville Today news partner, is working to learn more about those captured in the videos and the charges they are facing.

Violence on video

The cellphone videos from Saturday show officers repeatedly punching people in the stands, including one who is on the ground on the staircase.

The video, which was posted to X during the game, showed three officers punching two spectators at EverBank Stadium on Saturday night.

Lance Harlin was among those who captured cellphone videos of the altercations in the stand.

One of his videos shows the moments leading up to an officer hitting a man and the other shows more of the interaction.

Harlin said things during the game were going fine. He even shared a video that showed him smiling with two of the men who were later hit by police.

He said things started to turn when security asked two of the men behind Harlin to leave, and they didn’t.

Security left and came back again. The second time they came they asked Harlin and his grandfather questions before leaving again.

Security came back a third time and brought police with them.

Harlin’s video shows some sort of argument happening involving the police and the fans, and then moments later an officer walks over and tases one of the fans as he grabs his shirt.

Another video shows a police officer in uniform punching a fan in the back of the head multiple times.

In other videos of the incident, the officer seems to have the fan in a headlock while a witness yells, “Why are you punching him?”

The video ends with the officer who punched the fan in the back of the head standing next to the individual while holding a Taser.

Harlin described the scene as chaotic.

“I felt bad for the older gentleman,” Harlin said. “I mean I wanted to help him, but obviously I can’t step in or I’ll be on there too.”

Harlin said other fans started joining in the interaction between police and the men being hit.

“I feel like it escalated it on some level because I get them trying to help get it over and done with, but I didn’t see it as necessary,” Harlin said.

He also added he hopes to get in contact with the men who were hit by police to see how they’re doing.

After the video initially surfaced, the Jacksonville Sheriff‘s Office responded to News4JAX’s request for comment on the video with the following statement:

“The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office’s Professional Standards Division is aware of the videos circulating from the Georgia-Florida football game. Administrative reviews of the incidents are being opened. As such, the agency will not comment until all facts are known and the reviews have been completed.”

The Jacksonville Community Action Committee released this statement in response:

“We are deeply disturbed by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office’s excessive use of force during the recent Florida-Georgia football game. What should have been a unifying event was marred by aggressive and unnecessary tactics that put fans and families in harm’s way. This violent approach not only erodes public trust but also highlights the urgent need for accountability and oversight in law enforcement.

“This display of brutality serves as a reminder of why our community needs a greater voice in public safety matters. We call for the establishment of an independent Public Safety Committee with community representation, empowered to review and make recommendations on police practices.

“We stand in solidarity with those affected by JSO’s brutality and demand a thorough investigation and accountability. The time has come for Jacksonville to prioritize a PSC that reflects and respects our community, especially given the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office’s troubling history of violence and police brutality.”

Mayor Donna Deegan also responded on social media:

“I’m aware of several disturbing videos circulating from yesterday’s game. I have spoken to Sheriff (T.K.) Waters and the incidents are under investigation. We are awaiting the outcome of that investigation.”

Crime and safety analyst Tom Hackney, who retired as director of investigations for the Sheriff’s Office, said that for people to avoid incidents like this, they should avoid “active resistance.”

“[Active resistance is] where you’re pulling away from the officer, you snatch them away, you’re pushing their hands, anything like that. And it just kind of moves up from there,” he said.

In those instances, charges against the person resisting could elevate to battery on a law enforcement officer or resisting arrest with violence.

This story was produced by News4Jax, a Jacksonville Today news partner.