Officer accused of tossing food at handcuffed man resigns

Author: associated press
Published:

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) – A southwest Florida police officer accused of tossing food to a handcuffed man at a jail and then allowing the man to eat the food off the floor has resigned.

The Sarasota Police Department announced in a statement that Officer Andrew Halpin submitted a resignation letter Tuesday, shortly before a scheduled meeting with internal affairs investigators. He was placed on paid administrative leave last week after a video surfaced. Chief Bernadette DiPino had said she was disappointed in what she saw.

An intoxicated homeless man had been arrested on a trespassing charge July 18. The video first shows Halpin tossing food at the suspect’s mouth. Moments later, the apparently drunk and handcuffed man slumps on the floor to retrieve dropped food, with Halpin pushing it toward him with his foot.

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