A raw body-worn camera clip that has been circulating on social media shows a Daytona Beach officer repeatedly striking a man during an arrest, prompting Mayor Derrick Henry to label the footage "troubling" and publicly demand clear answers about what happened. City officials say the officer has been moved to an administrative assignment while the encounter is reviewed.
The roughly two-minute recording shows an officer ordering a man to pour out a beverage or face arrest for an open-container violation, then taking him to the ground and striking him while other officers move in to handcuff him, the video shows. Chief Jakari Young said the officer has been placed on an administrative assignment and that the department has sent the case to its Office of Professional Standards for a full review. The sequence pushed the mayor to seek clarity on the incident, according to ClickOrlando.
In the body-worn recording, an officer is heard saying, "Pour it out, or you're going to go to jail for open container," before grabbing the man and taking him down. The suspect, who can be heard taunting officers with the line "I almost took you out, didn't I?" is then struck multiple times while another officer brings a Taser close to the man's neck. Officers ultimately place the man in the back of a patrol car. The footage and the department's summary of the encounter were bundled together in the clip that police shared, per ClickOrlando.
Mayor, Chief And The Earlier Stop
The controversy comes just weeks after a February traffic stop involving Mayor Henry's wife triggered its own wave of scrutiny when the Volusia County Sheriff's Office released body-camera footage of that encounter. That earlier episode, which fueled public debate about over-policing in Black and Brown neighborhoods, was examined by local outlets, and Chief Young said his review found no violations of department policy, according to WESH.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood also weighed in during the February dispute, saying he had "worked for Mayor Henry and always found him to be supportive of law enforcement," a comment that helped cool some of the public tension between the mayor and police leadership. That statement, along with the earlier bodycam release, frames the backdrop for the mayor's latest push for answers, WESH reported.
What Happens Next
Daytona Beach police say the Office of Professional Standards will carry out a full review of the incident before the department releases any additional findings, and the officer will remain on administrative duty while that process plays out. Mayor Henry and community members say they will be watching closely for the outcome and for any policy changes that might be recommended as a result of the review.
