06/18/2026
A Florida appeals court ruled that former Sunrise Police Sgt. Christopher Pullease will not face a jury trial on felony battery charges stemming from a 2021 incident in which he grabbed a female officer by the throat after she pulled him away from a handcuffed suspect.
Body camera footage showed Pullease aggressively confronting a suspect who was already restrained in a patrol car, threatening him with profanity. When a female officer attempted to pull him back by his duty belt, Pullease spun around, grabbed her by the throat, and shouted, "Don't ever f---ing touch me again."
Pullease was initially charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, assault on an officer, and assault on the handcuffed suspect. However, the appeals court determined that prosecutors lacked sufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he intended to commit a criminal battery against the officer. As a result, the felony battery charge was dismissed before reaching a jury.
The court's decision effectively ends the criminal case against him related to grabbing the officer, despite widespread criticism of the incident after the bodycam footage became public. Pullease had already left the police department following the incident.
Source: Law&Crime
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