Police Sergeant Charged with Assault and Battery on Fellow Officer

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A Florida police sergeant is facing a felony assault and battery charge after an incident with a fellow officer.

Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor announced last week that Christopher Pullease, 47, is charged with one count of battery on a law enforcement officer; one count of tampering with evidence; assault on a law enforcement officer; and assault on a civilian male.

The charges stem from a November 2021 police incident recorded on Pullease’s body-worn camera.

Body-cam footage shows Pullease escalating a tense situation with a suspect in the back of a patrol car.

(WARNING: Explicit Content)

#BREAKING: @SunrisePoliceFL Sgt. Christopher Pullease charged with battery on LEO, assault, and tampering with/fabricating evidence for choking officer after she stopped him from pepper spraying handcuffed suspect in squad car, ordering cops to shut off body cams #BecauseFlorida pic.twitter.com/pqAU3wlfnG

— Billy Corben (@BillyCorben) July 21, 2022

“You wanna f***ing play f***ing games? You’re playing with the wrong motherf***er,” Pullease yelled, holding a pepper spray canister in the suspect’s face.

“You ever get disrespectful with my f***ing officers, I will remove your f***ing soul from your f***ing body,” he continued.

At that point a much smaller female police officer grabs the Sergeant by his waistband pulling him away from the suspect. Pullease then turns around and grabs the female officer by the throat while pushing her back.

“Don’t ever f***ing touch me again, get the f*** off me,” Pullease yells.

At least six other officers appear in the footage standing around while the incident takes place. None of the other officers intervene. 

Police department says they acted swiftly after incident came to light

Sunrise Police Department Chief Anthony W. Rosa said “upon hearing about this incident, I immediately relieved the sergeant of his supervisory responsibilities and ordered an internal affairs investigation.”

Sunrise police said in a statement that Pullease has been on administrative leave throughout the course of the investigation.

Pullease is charged with one count of battery on a law enforcement officer; one count of tampering with evidence; assault on a law enforcement officer; and assault on a civilian male.

If convicted, the maximum possible penalties are five years in state prison for felony battery on a police officer, one year for assaulting a law enforcement officer, and 60 days for assault on a civilian.