Experts: S.C. School Officer's Actions ‘Over the Line'

It's unlikely that a South Carolina police officer was justified in dragging a high school student across her classroom Monday, regardless of what led to the confrontation, experts say.

Details about what prompted the incident at Spring Valley High School in Columbia are still unclear. But education safety specialists say school resource officer Senior Deputy Ben Fields, who appeared to body-slam the student in cellphone video of the encounter, was over the line, NBC News reported.

"There are situations where it is appropriate to touch someone or pick someone up, or move them for some reason. But body slamming? The school should not be the site of a WWF exhibit," said Ronald Stephens, executive director of the National School Safety Center.

"Typically, school officials will address issues of discipline matters, and officers will address matters of criminal offense. So the question is, what was this young lady doing? Was she simply being defiant, or were there illegal activities involved that would warrant a reasonable use of force?" Stephens said.

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