College football fan aims racial slur at police officer and threatens to ‘kill a cop’ at Georgia-Florida game
The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party turned violent Saturday when a fan at the Georgia-Florida game in Jacksonville threatened to attack police before hurling racial slurs and death threats at officers during a physical altercation.
Police initially responded to reports that a fan threatened a stadium security guard in Jacksonville. As shown in Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office body camera footage, a white man, later identified as 39-year-old Walter Brown, was approached by two officers — one white and one black — who told him he was on “private -property’ and ‘they want you to leave.’
On Saturday, a 15-second clip of the incident went viral, but Jacksonville police have since added more context by releasing bodycam footage showing Brown uncooperative with officers.
“Remember when I told you, I’m either going to kill a cop or I’m not going to leave,” Brown said, according to a caption of the police footage.
One officer suffered a minor injury during the confrontation with Brown, whose voice was described as “intoxicated/unclear” in the police report to DailyMail.com. Brown faces charges of battery, resisting an officer with violence, disorderly intoxication/public unrest and trespassing on the property of another/defying order to leave.
A fan later identified as 39-year-old Walter Brown made racist comments about death threats against police
Walter Brown, 39, was arrested Saturday during the Georgia-Florida game after fighting with police
Brown was left with a torn T-shirt and a bloody eye after refusing to follow officers’ orders
The incident reportedly started when Brown accused a stadium employee of “kidnapping” his children. Police were then called when Brown refused to leave.
Throughout much of the clip, he is seen antagonizing officers. When an officer pulled his taser, the suspect told him to “tase” me.
A woman in a Georgia Bulldogs jersey was seen trying to reason with Brown during the encounter, but her relationship with the suspect is also unclear.
“You might get arrested,” she said. “Stop it now.”
When officers asked the suspect to stand up, Brown demanded to know “what my crime was.”
One officer explained that he was guilty of “trespassing,” prompting Brown to respond angrily, claiming a woman was “trying to kidnap my children.”
He continued, angrily telling officers he didn’t want to leave “with all five of my kids here.”
There did not appear to be any children in the police footage, but that point quickly became moot after Brown threatened an officer named DJ Bowers.
“I’m going to jail,” Brown said. “I don’t care because I’m going to beat you when I go back to jail, DJ Bowers.”
Bowers calmly responded, “Dude, you’re not going to do that. I promise.’
When the other officer, who is African-American, tried to grab Brown, the suspect snapped, “Don’t touch me” before using the n-word.
One officer ordered the other to hit Brown after the suspect was tasered
Brown threatened the jobs of both officers during the violent arrest Saturday in Jacksonville
The officers responded by tasing Brown, who was fumbling around in a doomed attempt to remove the electrodes from his chest.
Brown then fought officers as they tried to handcuff him, resulting in an all-out struggle between the three.
“Now you want some, n*****?” Brown asked. “Pull the gun out, n*****.”
The African-American officer, identified on the tape as “Officer Kelly,” calmly responded, “Come on, you’re going to jail.”
Brown was tasered again, but this time Kelly moved in for the attack. After several minutes of wrestling, Bowers and Kelly placed handcuffs on Brown, who suffered a bloody eye and tore his shirt during the struggle.
Brown uttered a few more racist comments as he was led away in handcuffs.
Although some fans became concerned after the short 15-second clip appeared online — with some suggestion that the police were somehow in the wrong — Jacksonville Sheriff TK Waters has since released a statement in support of the two officers.
“In the first incident, the suspect was asked to leave multiple times and threatened officers who attempted to remove him,” the sheriff’s office said Monday.
‘The suspect later grabbed an officer’s firearm. In the second incident, three suspects were asked to leave due to aggressive behavior towards other fans. They then became combative with officers, with one person grabbing an officer’s face and holding his duty belt.”
During the arrest, a woman repeatedly asked Brown to calm down and follow instructions
Jacksonville police reviewed disturbing footage that appeared to indicate a violent arrest
Michael (left) and Alexander (right) were both arrested after a fight in Jacksonville
Brandon Boley was also arrested for his alleged involvement in a physical altercation with police
Although Brown is from nearby Callahan, Florida, the 39-year-old may be a Georgia fan. He was seen sitting among other Bulldogs fans in Jacksonville wearing a shirt that read “Kendall Milton,” the name of a running back from Georgia.
Additionally, Brown was initially seen wearing a hat with the ‘G’ on the crown.
Brown’s incident wasn’t the only arrest during Saturday’s Georgia-Florida game, which the Bulldogs won 34-20.
Alexander and Michael Long, as well as a man named Brandon Boley, were arrested after a fight in the crowd.
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Keegan has since issued a statement regarding Saturday’s violence.
‘I am aware of several disturbing videos circulating from yesterday’s match. I have spoken with Sheriff Waters and the incidents are under investigation. We await the outcome of that investigation.’