The Albemarle Police Department announced Wednesday, Nov. 11, that it was investigating the incident, which occurred two days earlier at the Stanly County high school. The officer has not been publicly identified, and police have not released the student's name or age.

The video, which began circulating online before the department's announcement, appears to show several adults attempting to break up a fight between two students. The school resource officer is among them.

In the footage, the officer is seen pulling one student away from the other by placing the student in a headlock. The student appears to break free and walk away quickly while other adults hold back the second student. The first student then walks back toward the group. The camera briefly looks away, and when it returns, the officer appears to lift the student into the air and drop to the ground on top of them.

The student's head strikes the floor with a loud, audible clap, according to the video. The recording ends with the student on the ground being restrained by the officer.

The student's condition was not immediately known. Stanly County Schools did not respond to a request for comment.

In a statement released Wednesday, the police department said the officer was "placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation" and that investigators were gathering evidence, witness statements and video footage to conduct a "thorough" review.

"We understand community members may have questions. We ask for patience as investigators complete their work," the department said. "APD is committed to ensuring a complete and objective examination of the facts."

Police encouraged anyone who witnessed the incident to call Albemarle police at 704-984-9500.

The incident echoes a similar case in Charlotte roughly a year ago, when a school resource officer body-slammed a high school student while breaking up a fight. That student reportedly lost consciousness and suffered a seizure after the slam. The officer was removed from his school resource officer role as of April.

The Albemarle case comes as districts across North Carolina continue to weigh the role of armed officers in schools, a practice that has drawn increased scrutiny from parents, civil rights advocates and disability-rights groups who argue that police presence can escalate routine disciplinary situations into physical confrontations. Supporters say resource officers are essential to campus safety.

Albemarle, the seat of Stanly County, is a small city of roughly 16,000 residents about 40 miles east of Charlotte. Albemarle High School serves students in grades 9 through 12.

It was not immediately clear whether the officer has remained on administrative duty in the past, or whether the department has a written use-of-force policy specific to school resource officers. The department did not release additional details Wednesday.

The investigation is ongoing.