Sunrise sergeant who grabbed officer’s throat charged with battery, evidence tampering
A South Florida police sergeant caught on body-cam footage grabbing a fellow officer’s throat turned himself and faces several charges, according to authorities.
Sunrise Sgt. Christopher Douglas Pullease, 47, is facing one count of battery on a law enforcement officer, a count of tampering with evidence, assault on a law enforcement officer, and assault on a handcuffed man, the Broward County State Attorney’s Office said Thursday in a news release.
While in court Thursday, Pullease turned himself in to Judge George Odom after a $7,500 bond was set, the State Attorney’s Office said. He made bond and was released sometime Thursday evening.
The Nov. 19, 2021, incident occurred during the arrest of a man in Sunrise.
Pullease, who has been with the department for more than 21 years, is seen on video arriving on the scene as officers were placing a “verbally and physically resistive” man into the back seat of a patrol vehicle for transport to jail, Sunrise Police Chief Anthony Rosa said in January.
The suspect — identified in a police report as Jean Similien, 25, from Sunrise — had been arrested at 1201 Sunset Strip, accused of punching a man in the face several times.
“Once the suspect was inside the patrol vehicle, the sergeant approached and engaged in a verbal altercation with the suspect in a manner that I feel was inappropriate and unprofessional,” Rosa said at the time. While speaking to the suspect, the sergeant is seen on footage holding a can of pepper spray. Rosa told WSVN earlier this year that Pullease was pointing it at the handcuffed suspect.
Concerned that the situation might escalate, an officer approached the sergeant from behind, grabbed him by the back of his duty belt and pulled him backward, Rosa said. The video subsequently shows the sergeant turning around, putting his left hand up against the throat of the 28-year-old officer and pushing her back against a vehicle.
Police have not released the name of the officer — who has been with the department for about three years — because she is a witness, Sunrise police spokesman Justin Yarborough said.
READ MORE: Sunrise sergeant under investigation after video shows him grabbing officer’s throat
Pullease is also accused of holding a can of pepper spray up to the face of the officer and tampering with evidence in his cellphone in January, the Broward County State Attorney’s Office said in the release.
Pullease has been on administrative leave throughout the course of the investigation.
“Further determination with regards to the employment of Sergeant Pullease will be made in accordance with Florida State Statute 112.532, due process, and the collective bargaining agreement,” Sunrise police said.
Miami Herald Reporter Devoun Cetoute contributed to this report.
This story was originally published July 21, 2022 at 9:03 PM.
