The video made national headlines and ignited conversations about use of force and de-escalation in policing.
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It showed then-Sunrise Police Department Sergeant Christopher Pullease briefly grabbing a fellow officer by her neck when she intervened during a heated arrest.
Pullease was later arrested and charged with felony battery and evidence tampering. Nearly four years after his arrest, NBC6 Investigates learned the former sergeant is avoiding criminal trial. Instead, his case was transferred to Broward Veterans Court, a diversion program for certain military members.
A prosecutor told the judge the alleged victim did not oppose the move, which was requested by Pullease’s attorney.
BODY CAMERA VIDEO CAPTURES TENSE MOMENTS
The incident happened on Nov. 19, 2021, as police body cameras rolled.
The video shows officers were having trouble taking a battery suspect into custody.
“We need to figure out what’s going on,” one officer is heard saying on body camera.
Then, the suspect tells them: “I (expletive) wasn’t. And y’all steady following me. If I open fire on one, two and three. I told y’all…”
“Sir, are you threatening, are you threatening us with that?” an officer responded.
Sergeant Pullease had just arrived on scene as video shows officers putting the suspect into the back of a patrol car.
Pullease, pepper spray in hand, exchanged words with the already handcuffed man.
Suspect: “You going to mace me? Mace me.”
Pullease: “Look at me (expletive). You want to play (expletive) games? You ever get disrespectful with my (expletive) officers, I will remove your (expletive) soul from your (expletive) body.”
At that moment, a young officer with less than three years on the force raced up to the sergeant – who was a 21-year veteran of the police department.
She grabbed him by the belt and pulled him away from the suspect.
Pullease then turned around and turned on her, briefly grabbing her neck.
Pullease: “Don’t ever (expletive) touch me again.”
Junior Officer: “Sir.”
Pullease: “Get the (expletive) off me.”
Junior Officer: “Sir.”
The police chief at the time praised the junior officer, saying her actions demonstrated “…good leadership during a tense situation.”
After the altercation, Pullease can be heard telling the officers on scene: “Everybody turn off their (expletive) cameras.”
‘INCREDIBLY UNUSUAL’
Ramon de la Cabada is a former prosecutor and now a criminal defense attorney. He told us the circumstances surrounding this case – which he is not a part of – are unique.
“Incredibly unusual. I’ve represented officers, law enforcement in a variety of different ways but an attack on one of their own? That I haven’t seen,” he said. “The visual of the hand in the neck, that’s hard to overcome with a simple explanation.”
Eight months after the incident, Pullease was arrested.
In July 2022, the Broward State Attorney’s Office announced he was being charged with felony battery on his fellow officer and evidence tampering.
In court filings, prosecutors wrote Pullease fully reset/wiped his cellphone the day he was told he was under criminal investigation.
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Less than two hours after the altercation, prosecutors say the former sergeant sent the officers on scene a group text message, which read in part: “All, it is important not to air our dirty laundry to any officers that are not on this platoon, as it’s none of their business.”
CASE TRANSFERRED TO VETERANS COURT
Pullease was set to go to trial in late June – nearly four years after his arrest.
But NBC6 Investigates learned there would be no trial because the 51-year-old’s case was transferred out of regular criminal court and into a diversion program for certain military members.
Veterans Court requires a defendant to have a military service-related condition, such as a mental illness, traumatic brain injury, substance abuse, among others.
On June 1, Pullease’s attorney Michael Dutko filed a motion requesting the case be transferred, saying his client meets the criteria for the treatment program.
“He’s a veteran, was honorably discharged,” Dutko told us outside a recent court hearing. “He’s currently receiving some services from the VA and that’s just part of the whole process.”
When asked about the body camera video, Dutko told NBC6, “The video doesn’t tell the whole story.”
The defense attorney maintains the junior officer’s intervention was not appropriate. “If this case had gone to trial, it would have taken a while to explain the entire episode involving this arrest.”
ALLEGED VICTIM GAVE THE ‘OK’
At a recent court hearing, a prosecutor shared the perspective of the alleged victim.
“So, I did speak with the victim. She is aware of what Veterans Court offers. She is OK if gets transferred,” said Broward Assistant State Attorney Alexandra Weil.
“Without opposition from the State, nor the victim, I’ll give Mr. Pullease the opportunity to pursue the resources that are available for veterans and Veterans Court,” said Broward County Judge Francis Viamontes.
The Broward State Attorney’s Office told NBC6 because of new changes to Florida law, “…prosecutors cannot object if the defendant meets the requirements to transfer and the victims do not object,” adding, “…in all cases where any applicant is otherwise eligible to enter Veterans Court, prosecutors then consult with the victim or victims to see if they object. If any victim opposes transferring the case to Veterans Court, prosecutors notify the judge and under Florida’s strong victims’ rights to be heard at all stages of the case, the victim(s) would be able to speak to the judge in court. It is our strong belief that all Broward judges would give that great weight.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
Pullease’s criminal charges would be dismissed if he successfully completes Veterans Court, which could take about 18 months, according to the Broward State Attorney’s Office.
The agency told NBC6, “Veterans’ courts involve the traditional partners found in other treatment courts, including a judge, state attorney, public defender, defense attorney, case manager, treatment provider, probation officer, and law enforcement. In Veterans Court, the team may also include representatives of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and the Veterans Benefit Administration, the State Departments of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Centers, Veterans Service Organizations, Department of Labor, volunteer veteran mentors, and other veterans support groups.”
Pullease retired from the Sunrise Police Department in 2022.
The female officer remains on the force. The department told NBC6: “She does not wish to provide any statements at this time.”
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