DeLand, FL - The DeLand Police Department releases a statement and footage from an incident where several individuals were trespassed before a school board meeting.
Officers were called to the board's chambers at the DeLand Administrative Center around 1 p.m. on Tuesday (October 27th) in reference to multiple citizens who were refusing to wear masks during the meeting, which is reportedly in violation of the Volusia County School Board’s policy.
"As seen in the body cam footage released today and other video that has circulated, Volusia County School staff and our officers attempted to peacefully resolve the situation by offering accommodations for the citizens to participate in the meeting without having to wear a mask," said DeLand police in a statement.
But around an hour later, no agreement was met so school board officials asked that the individuals be trespassed from the property. However, despite being trespassed, some refused to leave the building, which led to them being physically removed from the chambers.
"All this for a mask! All of this because you guys are sheep! You guys are sheep! You're doing exactly what they say," said one woman as she was being removed from the chambers.
"To reiterate, the police department was not enforcing the school board’s mask policy but rather following the law by removing the trespassed parties from the meeting room," said the department in their release. "Based on Florida law, those who defy an order to leave after being trespassed from a property could be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor."
Neither the school board nor the DeLand Police Department pressed charges. You can find the police department's full statement by clicking here.
