Sheriff Defends Student-Slamming Deputy: His Girlfriend's Black

Sheriff Leon Lott of the Richland County Sheriff Department defended his deputy, Ben Fields, whose actions are being questioned after he was videotaped slamming and dragging a student. When asked if he thought the incident was racially motivated, Lott explained that his personal knowledge of Fields "dating an African-American female for some time now" came into play.

During the press conference Lott also spoke about the student's injuries, and he revealed that she suffered a "rug burn" at best. He then pointed out that the student resisted arrest, as a newly released video shows the student appearing to hit the officer as he tried to remove her from the classroom.

Check out part of the press conference above and flip through for the newest footage of the student/deputy interaction.