Disturbing footage has emerged showing a police officer violently removing a schoolgirl from a classroom in front of her horrified fellow students.
The incident happened at a school in South Carolina after the girl refused to leave the classroom, according to the local sheriff.
A school officer - identified as Deputy Ben Fields - was then called to deal with the situation. After looming above the girl for a while he then throws her to the floor and drags her towards the door.
Fields has been placed on administrative leave pending the results of an investigation.
Debbie Hamm, superintendent for Richland School District Two, said officials were "deeply concerned" about the incident.
She added: "Student safety is and always will be the district’s top priority. The district will not tolerate any actions that jeopardize the safety of our students.
"Pending the outcome of the investigation, the district has directed that the school resource officer not return to any school in the district."
The story and video soon began circulating widely on social media prompting the hashtag #AssaultAtSpringValleyHigh.
James Manning, chairman of the school board, called the video "extremely disturbing" in an email statement Monday evening. He said the use of force appears "excessive and unnecessary." Fields, said Manning, has been banned from all school property.
"Staff are committed to the safety of all of our students and are taking immediate steps to ensure that our students are treated with the full respect and dignity that they deserve while in our care," Manning said.