A viral bodycam video has surfaced, showing a confrontation between a University of Central Florida student and campus police that escalated into the student being pepper-sprayed, tased, and arrested. The footage, dated February 5, 2025, captures the student, who is transgender, shouting at an officer inside a campus building after police responded to a disturbance. The student had become involved in a verbal altercation with several juveniles and became combative with officers when they arrived.
The video begins with the officer asking the student, "What's the problem?" The student responds by questioning why the officer allowed the juveniles to get away with their actions, stating they were not supposed to be on campus. The officer warns the student to calm down or face being placed in handcuffs and taken to a facility for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. The student refuses to back down, leading to a further escalation of the situation.
The confrontation takes a turn when the officer's pronoun use becomes a point of contention. The student objects to the officer's use of incorrect pronouns, screaming "She! She! Just say the right pronoun!" The dispute continues even as officers attempt to put the student in handcuffs. The situation becomes increasingly volatile, with the officer warning, "I'm gonna spray him," before the student becomes enraged and yells, "Don't say him!"
The officer attempts to correct their pronoun use, saying, "OK, her. I'm going to spray her," as they scuffle with the student. The student continues to resist arrest, pleading for help from a nearby university administrator and requesting that they instruct the officers to use the correct pronouns. The situation ultimately ends with the student being tased and handcuffed before being placed in a patrol vehicle.
The student was arrested and charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct, and resisting an officer with violence. The student pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the cases are now listed as closed. The University of Central Florida has confirmed that the student was enrolled at the university in spring 2025 but is not a current student and did not graduate from the school.
The incident has raised concerns about the handling of the situation by campus police and the importance of using correct pronouns when interacting with transgender individuals. The video footage has sparked a wider conversation about the need for greater understanding and sensitivity in law enforcement interactions with the LGBTQ+ community.
