DeLAND, Fla. – After body camera video that shows Volusia County deputies breaking up block parties over the weekend received mixed reactions -- with some saying his deputies’ actions were racially motivated -- Sheriff Mike Chitwood is defending his deputies and asking the community to take a step back before forming any conclusions about the video.
The video, which was posted to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, shows a huge crowd attending a block party near Delaware Avenue, despite social distancing guidelines still in effect throughout Florida amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Authorities estimated that at least 3,000 people gathered across DeLand for a memorial and block parties that spanned many different