Sanford police officer on leave for 'takedown maneuver' on man in handcuffs at The Barn

SANFORD, Fla. — A Sanford police officer is on administrative leave after performing a takedown maneuver on a man who was already handcuffed at The Barn.

Officer Adam Johnson is being investigated by internal affairs after the Tuesday incident, Sanford police said.

Body cam video from Sanford police shows an officer radio to other officers that he needs help with a man reportedly on a table punching an air conditioning unit.

Video shows that while police tried to arrest that man, other people tried to interfere.

As police walk out with several people in handcuffs, video shows a handcuffed Morrell Byrd turn to an officer and yell obscenities.

A police report says Byrd elbowed Johnson, but witnesses told Channel 9 they didn’t see that.

RAW BODY CAMERA VIDEO | Warning: Explicit language (Source: Sanford Police Dept.)

Police Body Camera Video: Takedown maneuver of handcuffed man at The Barn in Sanford Source: Sanford Police Department

“All aspects of the incident, including the events before, during and after are currently being reviewed in order to determine if any violations of police occurred,” Chief Cecil Smith said in a statement.

Smith said he has been in touch with Byrd's mother.

Sanford police thanked people on social media for posting video and photos of the incident, which led to the investigation.

Smith said the atmosphere in The Barn at the time was hectic.

Police have been to the popular but problematic bar several times over the years. In 2016, a performer was shot multiple times in the parking lot of The Barn moments after getting off the stage. In 2015, Sanford police said they had been called to The Barn more than 700 times in the previous 18 months.

One of the 2015 incidents was a fight in which a man was seen on surveillance video slamming another person to the concrete ground.

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