St. Lucie County deputy arrested on multiple charges

A deputy was arrested after an internal review allegedly revealed excessive use of force during an arrest in April, according to a news release from the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office.

Randy Walker, an eight-year deputy, turned himself in to the Martin County Jail on Saturday after two arrest warrants were issued by the State Attorney's Office.

The charges include one count of making a false statement and one misdemeanor count of battery.

An internal investigation has been opened into the use of force during an arrest on April 2.

The sheriff's office said there was never a complaint of excessive force.

According to the arrest report, Walker went to Deerpark Avenue and Wintergarden Parkway to help traffic units apprehend a suspect on a warrant who had fled on foot into a wooded area.

K9 units were dispatched and located the suspect lying under thick brush.

Walker said he delivered knee and elbow strikes as the suspect “actively resisted” until he complied. Walker also said he hit the suspect again after he tried to put his hands under his stomach so officers couldn't reach his hands in his supplemental report.

Discrepancies were noted between Walker's report and body-worn camera footage at the scene.

The arrest report states that the suspect's hands were in plain sight of law enforcement and that he was not “brandishing any type of weapon and did not appear to be endangering law enforcement in any way.” it would be “.

The deputy also did not report hitting the suspect at least three times in the head and neck.

Sheriff Keith Pearson released a statement regarding the arrest on social media.

“As all use of force incidents are reviewed internally, per our policy, the supervisors and peers present concluded that his actions that day were excessive and did not meet the conduct we expect of our deputies .”

Walker is free on bond and is currently on unpaid administrative leave pending notice of termination.

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