Florence school resource officer broke arm of student hurt in bathroom fight, lawsuit claims

FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW) — A Florence County school resource officer broke the arm of a Wilson High School student who was injured after being assaulted by a group of students inside a bathroom, according to a newly filed lawsuit.

The 12-page complaint filed Monday names the Florence County School District and Florence County Sheriff’s Office as defendants, accusing both of negligence in addition to recklessness by the sheriff’s office. Wilson High School is in the Florence 1 School District.

Maj Michael Nunn of the Florence County Sheriff’s Office said the agency had not been served as of Tuesday. News13 also reached out to Florence 1 Schools for comment.

The lawsuit stems from a March 28 incident in which Deputy Jerry Kelly was alerted to a fight that had taken place inside a school bathroom. Kelly saw the victim walking out of the restroom and tried to speak with him, saying in his report the student “would not listen to him or the principal,” according to the lawsuit.

Kelly then allegedly grabbed the student by his arm and “slammed him on a nearby desk” to handcuff him after he heard the principal say the student had tried to attack him.

“Prior to (the student) being slammed, body camera footage worn by Deputy Kelly shows staff members telling him that something is wrong (with the student) and this is why he’s not responding,” the lawsuit claims.

Kelly then grew more upset, threatening the student and cursing at him, according to the lawsuit.

“Following the fight, (the student) had a large visible knot on his head. This should have been a clear indication to Deputy Kelly that (the student) may be suffering from a head injury and was not just being disrespectful,” the lawsuit said.

Kelly “continued to berate” the student, who eventually was sent to the nurse’s office where his mother was contacted, according to the lawsuit.

The student was later treated at the Medical University of South Carolina to repair a fractured arm bone, the lawsuit said. The injury required the student to have a full cast and physical therapy.

The student’s family is seeking a jury trial for damages.

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Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12 . See more of his work here .

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